As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 9, 2000
Registration No. 333-35026
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
-----------
Amendment No. 1 to
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
-----------
STRUCTURED ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 74-2440850
(State or Other Jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization)
200 Vesey Street
New York, New York 10285
(212) 526-7000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant's
principal executive offices)
Mark L. Zusy
Structured Asset Securities Corporation
200 Vesey Street
New York, New York 10285
(212) 526-4428
(Name, address, including zip code and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
--------------------
Copies to:
John Arnholz, Esq. Scott Kimmel, Esq.
Brown & Wood LLP Lehman Brothers Inc.
1666 K Street 200 Vesey Street
Washington, D.C. 20006-1208 New York, New York 10285
(202) 533-1444 (212) 526-2439
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time after the effective date of this
Registration Statement.
If any securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, check the following box. / X /
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
==================================================================================================================================
Proposed Maximum Proposed Maximum
Amount Being Offering Price Per Aggregate Offering Amount of
Title of Securities Being Registered Registered Unit(1) Price(1) Registration
Fee(2)
- --------------------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------- --------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Asset-Backed Certificates and Asset-Backed $1,000,000.00 100% $1,000,000.00 $264.00
Notes
==================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(2) $264.00 previously paid.
Pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act of 1933, the prospectus
which is part of this Registration Statement is a combined prospectus and
includes all the information currently required in a prospectus relating to
securities covered by Registration Statement No. 333-68513 and 333-31252
previously filed by the Registrant.
-----------------------------------------
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date
or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this
Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with
Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the
Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission,
acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus supplement is not complete and may be
changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This
prospectus supplement is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not
soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or
sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, May [ ], 2000
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated [ ])
$[ ] (Approximate)
STRUCTURED ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION
Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series [ ]
[ ],
[Servicer/Master Servicer]
Consider carefully the risk factors beginning on page S-[ ] of this prospectus
supplement.
For a list of capitalized terms used in this prospectus supplement, see the
Glossary beginning on page S-[ ] of this prospectus supplement.
The certificates will represent interest in the trust fund only and will not
represent interest in or obligations of any other entity.
This prospectus supplement may be used to offer and sell any series of
certificates only if accompanied by the prospectus.
[ ], the trust will issue the following certificates(1):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class
Principal Interest Price to Underwriting Proceeds to CUSIP
Class Amount (2) Rate (3) Public Discount Depositor Number
----- ---------- -------- ------ -------- --------- ------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
[ ] $[ ] [ ]% $[ ] [ ] $[ ]
- ---------
(1) [In general, interest and principal payable on any payment date
will be paid first to the certificates identified with an A in
their class designation, then to the Class M and Class B
certificates, in that order.]
(2) These amounts are approximate, as described in this prospectus supplement.
(3) The interest rate for each class of certificates will be [to be described
as applicable].
</TABLE>
[The Trust will also issue class [ ] certificates that will be entitled
to receive distributions of [to be described] and [REMIC residual
certificates], as described in this prospectus supplement.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relate only to
the offering of the certificates listed in the chart above [and not to the
class [ ] certificates or the [REMIC residual certificates].
[Describe assets of trust fund.]
[Describe underwriting arrangements.]
The closing date for the offering of the certificates is expected to be
on or about [ ].
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved the certificates or determined that
this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
LEHMAN BROTHERS
The date of this prospectus supplement is [ ]
<PAGE>
Important Notice about Information Presented in this
Prospectus Supplement and the Accompanying Prospectus
We provide information to you about the certificates offered by this
prospectus supplement in two separate documents that progressively provide
more detail: (1) the accompanying prospectus, which provides general
information, some of which may not apply to your certificates, and (2) this
prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of your series of
certificates, including:
If information varies between this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus
supplement.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus,
including the information incorporated by reference to other public filings
made by the depositor. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any
other information.
We are not offering the certificates in any state where the offer is not
permitted. We do not claim that the information in this prospectus supplement
and the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the
dates stated on their respective covers.
---------
Dealers will deliver a prospectus supplement and prospectus when acting
as underwriters of the certificates and with respect to their unsold
allotments or subscriptions. In addition, all dealers selling the certificates
will be required to deliver a prospectus supplement and prospectus for ninety
days following the date of this prospectus supplement.
---------
We include cross references in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus to captions in these materials where you can find
further related discussions. The following table of contents and the table of
contents included in the accompanying prospectus provide the pages on which
these captions are located.
<PAGE>
Table of Contents
Prospectus Supplement
Summary of Terms.......................................................... S- 6
Risk Factors.............................................................. S-11
Limited Obligations.................................................... S-11
Potential Inadequacy of Credit Enhancement............................ S-11
Unpredictability and Effect of Prepayments............................. S-14
Geographic Concentration of Mortgage Loans............................ S-14
Greater Risk Involving Certain Property Types.......................... S-15
Less Reliable Prepayment Loss and
Foreclosure Information For Newly
Originated Mortgage Loans ........................................... S-15
Limited Ability to Resell.............................................. S-16
Insolvency of Seller Could Cause Losses................................ S-16
Description of the Certificates........................................... S-17
General................................................................ S-17
Book-Entry Registration................................................ S-18
Priority of Distributions.............................................. S-19
Distributions of Interest.............................................. S-19
Distributions of Principal............................................. S-21
Available Distribution Amount.......................................... S-22
Credit Enhancement..................................................... S-23
[The Residual Certificate.............................................. S-23
[Allocation of Realized Losses......................................... S-24
Final Scheduled Distribution Date...................................... S-26
Optional Termination of the Trust...................................... S-26
The Trustee............................................................ S-26
Description of the Mortgage Pool.......................................... S-26
General................................................................ S-26
Additional Information.................................................... S-32
[The Servicer]............................................................ S-32
General................................................................ S-32
Delinquency Experience................................................. S-32
Servicing of the Mortgage Loans........................................... S-34
[The Subservicer [if applicable]....................................... S-34
[Insurance Coverage.................................................... S-34
Servicing Compensation and Payment of Expenses......................... S-34
Prepayment Interest Shortfalls......................................... S-34
Advances............................................................... S-35
Collection of Taxes, Assessments and
Similar Items ....................................................... S-35
Certain Rights Related to Foreclosure.................................. S-35
Trust Agreement........................................................... S-36
General................................................................ S-36
Assignment of Mortgage Loans........................................... S-36
Voting Rights.......................................................... S-37
Yield, Prepayment and Weighted Average Life............................... S-37
General................................................................ S-37
[Subordination of the Class
[ ]Certificates ................................................. S-39
Weighted Average Life.................................................. S-40
Material Federal Income Tax Considerations................................ S-42
General................................................................ S-42
[Residual Certificates................................................. S-42
Legal Investment Considerations........................................... S-43
Use of Proceeds........................................................... S-43
Underwriting.............................................................. S-43
ERISA Considerations...................................................... S-44
Legal Matters............................................................. S-44
Ratings................................................................... S-44
<PAGE>
Table of Contents
Prospectus
Description of the Securities.............................................. 2
General................................................................. 2
Distributions on the Securities......................................... 3
Optional Termination.................................................... 5
Optional Purchase of Securities......................................... 6
Other Purchases......................................................... 6
Book-Entry Registration................................................. 7
Yield, Prepayment and Maturity Considerations.............................. 12
Payment Delays.......................................................... 12
Principal Prepayments................................................... 12
Timing of Reduction of Principal Amount................................. 13
Interest or Principal Weighted Securities............................... 13
Final Scheduled Distribution Date....................................... 13
Prepayments and Weighted Average Life................................... 14
Other Factors Affecting Weighted Average Life........................... 15
The Trust Funds............................................................ 17
General................................................................. 17
Ginnie Mae Certificates................................................. 19
Fannie Mae Certificates................................................. 21
Freddie Mac Certificates................................................ 24
Private Mortgage-Backed Securities........................................27
The Mortgage Loans........................................................30
The Manufactured Home Loans...............................................37
Pre-Funding Arrangements..................................................38
Collection Account and Distribution Account...............................38
Other Funds or Accounts...................................................39
Loan Underwriting Procedures and Standards...................................40
Underwriting Standards....................................................40
Loss Experience...........................................................42
Representations and Warranties............................................43
Substitution of Primary Assets............................................45
Servicing of Loans...........................................................45
General...................................................................45
Collection Procedures; Escrow Accounts....................................46
Deposits to and Withdrawals from the
Collection Account .....................................................47
Servicing Accounts........................................................49
Buy-Down Loans, GPM Loans and Other
Subsidized Loans .......................................................49
Advances and Limitations Thereon..........................................51
Maintenance of Insurance Policies and
Other Servicing Procedures .............................................52
Presentation of Claims; Realization Upon
Defaulted Loans ........................................................55
Enforcement of Due-On-Sale Clauses........................................56
Certain Rights Related to Foreclosure.....................................57
Servicing Compensation and Payment of
Expenses ...............................................................57
Evidence as to Compliance.................................................58
Certain Matters Regarding the Master Servicer.............................59
Credit Support...............................................................60
General...................................................................60
Subordinate Securities; Subordination
Reserve Fund ...........................................................61
Cross-Support Features....................................................62
Insurance.................................................................63
Letter of Credit..........................................................63
Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy.......................................64
Reserve Funds.............................................................64
Description of Mortgage and Other Insurance..................................65
Mortgage Insurance on the Loans...........................................65
Hazard Insurance on the Loans.............................................75
Bankruptcy Bond...........................................................75
Repurchase Bond...........................................................75
The Agreements...............................................................75
Issuance of Securities....................................................76
Assignment of Primary Assets..............................................76
Repurchase and Substitution of
Non-Conforming Loans ...................................................79
Reports to Securityholders................................................81
Investment of Funds.......................................................82
Event of Default; Rights Upon Event
of Default .............................................................83
The Trustee...............................................................86
Duties of the Trustee.....................................................87
Resignation of Trustee....................................................87
Distribution Account......................................................88
Expense Reserve Fund......................................................88
Amendment of Agreement....................................................88
Voting Rights.............................................................89
REMIC or FASIT Administrator..............................................89
Administration Agreement..................................................89
Termination...............................................................90
Legal Aspects of Loans.......................................................91
Mortgages.................................................................91
Junior Mortgages; Rights of Senior Mortgages..............................92
Cooperative Loans.........................................................94
Foreclosure on Mortgages..................................................96
Realizing Upon Cooperative Loan Security..................................97
Rights of Redemption......................................................99
Anti-Deficiency Legislation and Other
Limitations on Lenders .................................................99
Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act
of 1940 ...............................................................101
Environmental Risks......................................................103
Due-on-Sale Clauses in Mortgage Loans....................................103
Enforceability of Prepayment and Late
Payment Fees ..........................................................104
Equitable Limitations on Remedies........................................104
Applicability of Usury Laws..............................................105
Adjustable Interest Rate Loans...........................................106
Manufactured Home Loans..................................................106
Material Federal Income Tax Considerations..................................110
General..................................................................110
Taxable Mortgage Pools...................................................111
REMICs...................................................................111
FASITs...................................................................138
Grantor Trust Funds......................................................142
Partnership Trust Funds & Debt Securities...................................151
State Tax Considerations....................................................157
ERISA Considerations........................................................158
Legal Investment Considerations.............................................164
Legal Matters...............................................................165
The Depositor...............................................................165
Use of Proceeds.............................................................166
Plan of Distribution........................................................166
Additional Information......................................................167
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.............................168
Reports to Securityholders..................................................168
Index of Defined Terms......................................................I-1
<PAGE>
Summary of Terms
o This summary highlights selected information from this prospectus
supplement and does not contain all of the information that you need to
consider in making your investment decision. To understand all of the
terms of the offering of the certificates, you should carefully read
this entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
o While this summary contains an overview of certain calculations, cash
flow priorities and other information to aid your understanding, you
should read carefully the full description of these calculations, cash
flow priorities and other information in this prospectus supplement and
the accompanying prospectus before making any investment decision.
o [Whenever we refer to a percentage of some or all of the mortgage loans
in the trust fund [or in any pool], that percentage has been calculated
on the basis of the total scheduled principal balance of those mortgage
loans as of [ ________ ], unless we specify otherwise. We explain in
this prospectus supplement under "Description of the Certificates -
Distributions of Principal" how the scheduled principal balance of a
mortgage loan is determined. Whenever we refer in this Summary of Terms
or in the Risk Factors section to the total principal balance of any
mortgage loans, we mean the total of their scheduled principal balances
determined by that method, unless we specify otherwise.]
The Offered Certificates
Structured Asset Securities Corporation [ ] Trust [ ] is offering the
Class [ ] and Class [ ] Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates as part of series
[ ]. The certificates will be issued in book-entry form.
See "Description of the Certificates -- Book-Entry Registration" in this
prospectus supplement for a discussion of the minimum denominations and the
incremental denominations of the certificates.
The certificates represent ownership interests in the assets of the
series [ ] trust fund, which consist primarily of [ describe assets of the
trust fund].
The certificates will have an approximate aggregate initial principal
amount of $[ ]. Any difference between the total principal amount of the
certificates on the date they are issued and the approximate total principal
amount of the certificates on the date of this prospectus supplement will not
exceed 5%.
Depositor
Structured Asset Securities Corporation is the depositor. The depositor's
principal offices are located at 200 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10285,
telephone (212) 526-5594.
Seller
Lehman Capital, A Division of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. will be the
seller of the mortgage loans. The seller's principal offices are located at
200 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10285, telephone (212) 526-3305.
Trustee
[ ] will be the trustee under the trust agreement creating the
trust.
See "Description of the Certificates -- The Trustee" herein.
Servicing
[ ] will service the mortgage loans in the trust
pursuant to a servicing agreement, among the seller, the servicer and [the
master servicer]. The servicer will receive a monthly fee with respect to each
mortgage loan that it services as described in "Servicer" and "Servicing of
the Mortgage Loans" in this prospectus supplement.
[The servicer [or the master servicer] is required to make advances in
respect of scheduled payments on the mortgage loans, net of its servicing fee,
in certain circumstances described herein. If the servicer [or the master
servicer] does not make a required advance, the trustee will be obligated to
do so to the extent required by the trust agreement.]
Payments on the Certificates
Principal and interest on each class of the certificates will be payable
on the [25th]day of each month, beginning in [ ]. However, if the
[25th] day is not a business day, payments will be made on the next business
day.
Interest Payments
Interest will accrue on each class of the certificates at the annual rate
described in this prospectus supplement.
[You will receive from each pool of mortgage loans only the payments of
interest that the component parts of your class of certificates that relate to
that mortgage pool are entitled to receive. As described in this prospectus
supplement, you may receive less than you are entitled to from any particular
pool of mortgage loans if those mortgage loans do not generate enough interest
in any particular month to pay interest due.]
See "Description of the Certificates - Payments of Interest" in this
prospectus supplement.
Principal Payments
The amount of principal payable on each class of certificates will be
determined by (1) funds actually received on the mortgage loans that are
available to make payments on each class of certificates, (2) the amount of
interest received on the mortgage loans that is used to pay principal on each
class of certificates, calculated as described in this prospectus supplement,
(3) [the amount of principal received on the mortgage loans that is released
to the residual certificate, calculated as described in this prospectus
supplement,] and (4) [ ].
Funds actually received on the mortgage loans may consist of expected,
scheduled payments, and unexpected payments resulting from prepayments or
defaults by borrowers, liquidation of defaulted mortgage loans, or repurchases
of mortgage loans under the circumstances described in this prospectus
supplement.
See "Description of the Certificates -- Payments of Principal" in this
prospectus supplement.
The last possible day on which the payment of principal on the
certificates could be made is [ ] and is referred to as the last scheduled
distribution date. The certificates could be paid in full before the last
scheduled distribution date.
Principal of each class of certificates will be payable on the 25th day
of each month as described in this prospectus supplement beginning at page
[[ ]]. We expect, although we cannot be certain, that the last payment of
principal on any certificate will be made on or before [[ ]], 20[[ ]].
See "Yield, Prepayment and Weighted Average Life - General" in this
prospectus supplement for a discussion of the factors that could affect when
the principal of each class of certificates will be paid in full.
Limited Recourse
The only source of cash available to make interest and principal payments
on the certificates will be the assets of the trust fund. The trust fund will
have no other source of cash and no other entity will be required or expected
to make any payments on the certificates.
Enhancement of Likelihood of Payment on the Certificates
The payment structure includes [forms of credit enhancement to be
described as applicable]. [The certificates will not be insured by any
financial guaranty insurance policy.]
See "Risk Factors - Potential Inadequacy of Credit Enhancement" and
"Description of the Certificates - Credit Enhancement" in this prospectus
supplement for a detailed description of the forms of credit enhancement
available to the certificates.
[Subordination of Payments
Payments of interest and principal will each be made to holders of each
class of offered certificates before payments are made to the holder of the
[REMIC] residual certificate. In addition, certificates with an "A" in their
class designation will have a payment priority as a group over other
certificates. Class [ ] certificates will have a payment priority over class [
] certificates, and class [ ] certificates will have a payment priority over
class [ ] certificates.
These payment priorities are intended to increase the likelihood that the
holders of class [ ] certificates and, to a lesser extent, the holders of
class [ ] certificates, will receive regular payments of interest and
principal.
See "Description of the Certificates - Credit Enhancement" in this
prospectus supplement.]
[Overcollateralization
On the closing date, the total principal amount of the certificates is
expected to exceed the total principal balance of the mortgage loans by
approximately $[ ] or approximately [ ]%. This condition is referred to as
"undercollateralization." In the same way, the total principal amount of the
certificates' component parts that relate to each pool of mortgage loans is
expected to exceed the total principal balance of the mortgage loans in each
pool in approximately the same proportion.
Any interest received on the mortgage loans in each pool in excess of the
amount needed to pay interest on the certificates' component parts that relate
to that pool and certain expenses and fees will be used to reduce the total
principal balance of those component parts in order to eliminate the initial
undercollateralization.
If the initial undercollateralization is eliminated, and we cannot assure
you that it will be, the trustee will continue to apply excess interest to
reduce the total principal balance of the certificates to a level set by the
rating agencies until the total principal balance of the mortgage loans
exceeds the total outstanding principal amount of the certificates, and the
total principal balance of the mortgage loans in each pool exceeds the total
principal amount of the certificates' component parts that relate to that
pool, by the amount required by the rating agencies. This condition is
referred to as "overcollateralization." We cannot assure you that sufficient
interest will be generated by the mortgage loans to create
overcollateralization, or to maintain it after it has been created.
See "Risk Factors - Potential Inadequacy of Credit Enhancement" and
"Description of the Certificates - Overcollateralization" in this prospectus
supplement.]
[Allocation of Losses
If, after the initial undercollateralization has been eliminated, the
total outstanding principal amount of any group of certificates' component
parts as of the end of the immediately preceding month exceeds the total
principal balance of the mortgage loans in the related pool, then the
principal balance of the component that is lowest in seniority and still
outstanding will be reduced (and you will receive no payments in respect of
the reduction) until the total outstanding principal amount of those component
parts equals the total principal balance of those mortgage loans.]
The Mortgage Loans
On the closing date, which is expected to be on or about [ ], the assets
of the trust will consist of [__ pools of] mortgage loans with a total
principal balance of approximately $[ ]. The mortgage loans will be secured by
[mortgages, deeds of trust or other security instruments, all of which are
referred to in this prospectus supplement as mortgages].
[The mortgage loans held by the trust will not be insured or guaranteed
by any government agency.]
See "Description of the Mortgage Pool" in this prospectus supplement and
"The Trust Funds - The Mortgage Loans" in the prospectus for a general
description of the mortgage loans.
[The Pre-Funding Arrangement
On the closing date, approximately $[ ] will be deposited by
[ ] in a pre-funding account maintained by [ ]. It is
intended that additional mortgage loans will be sold to the trust by the
depositor from time to time, from [ ] until [ ], paid for with
the funds on deposit in the pre-funding account.
[Description of pre-funding account and additional mortgage loans if
applicable.]]
Optional Termination
[ ] will have the option to purchase all the mortgage
loans and the other assets of the trust fund on any distribution date when the
total principal balance of the mortgage loans declines to [ ]%, or less, of
their initial total principal balance. If [ ] does not exercise
that option, [ ] may purchase the mortgage loans.
[If the mortgage loans in any pool and the other assets of the pool are
purchased, the certificateholders of the related classes of certificates will
be paid accrued interest (on the certificates' component parts that relate to
that pool) and principal equal to the outstanding principal balance of those
component parts.]
See "Description of the Certificates - Optional Purchase of Mortgage
Loans; Termination of the Trust" in this prospectus supplement for a
description of the purchase price to be paid for the mortgage loans.
Tax Status
[REMIC or FASIT status to be described as applicable.]
See "Material Federal Income Tax Considerations" in this prospectus
supplement and in the prospectus for additional information concerning the
application of federal income tax laws to the certificates.
ERISA Considerations
[To be provided as applicable.]
ERISA generally applies to investments made by employee benefit plans and
transactions involving the assets of these plans. Because of the complexity of
regulations that govern these plans, you should consult with your advisor
regarding the consequences under ERISA of acquiring, holding and disposing of
any certificates.
See "ERISA Considerations" in this prospectus supplement and in the
prospectus for a more complete discussion of these issues.
Legal Investment Considerations
[The certificates will [not] constitute "mortgage related securities" for
purposes of the Secondary Mortgage Market Enhancement Act of 1984.]
Other legal restrictions apply to the ability of some types of investors
to purchase the certificates. Prospective investors should consider these
restrictions.
See "Legal Investment Considerations" in this prospectus supplement and
in the prospectus.
Ratings of the Certificates
Each class of certificates will initially have the following ratings from
[ ]:
Class Rating
----- ------
A rating reflects the rating agency's assessment of the likelihood that
timely payments will be made on the certificates. Ratings do not address the
likelihood or expected rate of prepayments, or the possibility that investors
in the certificates might suffer a lower than anticipated yield due to
prepayments.
See "Ratings" in this prospectus supplement.
<PAGE>
Risk Factors
The following information, which you should carefully consider,
identifies certain significant sources of risk associated with an investment
in the certificates.
Limited Obligations The assets of the trust fund, including any
form of credit enhancement, are the sole
source of payments on the certificates. The
certificates are not the obligations of any
other entity. None of the seller, the
depositor, the underwriter, the servicer or
any of their affiliates will have any
obligation to replace or supplement the
credit enhancement, or take any other
action to maintain the rating of the
certificates. If credit enhancement is not
available, holders of the certificates may
suffer losses on their investment.
Potential Inadequacy of
Credit Enhancement [The certificates are not insured by any
financial guaranty insurance policy. The
overcollateralization and subordination
features described in the summary are
intended to enhance the likelihood that
certificateholders will receive regular
payments of interest and principal.
Overcollateralization. In order to
eliminate the initial
undercollateralization and create
overcollateralization for each pool of
mortgage loans, it will be necessary that
those mortgage loans generate more interest
than is needed to pay interest on the
certificates and fees and expenses of the
trust fund. We expect that the mortgage
loans will generate more interest than is
needed to pay those amounts, at least
during certain periods, because the
weighted average of the interest rates on
the mortgage loans is higher than the
weighted average of the interest rates on
the certificates. We can not assure you,
however, that enough excess interest will
be generated to eliminate the initial
undercollateralization or to reach the
overcollateralization levels required by
the rating agencies for each pool. The
following factors will affect the amount of
excess interest that the mortgage loans
will generate:
o Prepayments. Every time a mortgage
loan is prepaid, total excess interest
after the date of prepayment will be
reduced because that mortgage loan
will no longer be outstanding and
generating interest. The effect on
your certificates of this reduction
will be influenced by the number of
prepaid loans and the characteristics
of the prepaid loans. Prepayment of a
disproportionately high number of high
interest rate mortgage loans would
have a greater negative effect on
future excess interest.
o Defaults. The rate of defaults on
the mortgage loans may turn out to be
higher than expected. Defaulted
mortgage loans may be liquidated , and
liquidated mortgage loans will no
longer be outstanding and generating
interest. Defaults on a
disproportionately large number of
high interest rate mortgage loans
would have a greater negative effect
on future excess interest.
o Level of LIBOR. If LIBOR increases,
more cash will be needed to pay
interest to certificateholders, so
less cash will be available as excess
interest.
See "Description of the Certificates --
Credit Enhancement --
Overcollateralization" in this prospectus
supplement. Subordination.
Subordination in right of payment of the
Class [ ] certificates to the Class [ ]
certificates provides a form of credit
enhancement for the Class [ ] certificates.
However, if this subordination is
insufficient to absorb losses in excess of
any overcollateralization that is created,
then holders of Class [ ] certificates will
incur losses, and holders of the Class [ ]
certificates may incur losses and may never
receive all of their principal payments.
You should consider the following:
o if you buy a Class [ ] certificate
and losses in any month exceed excess
interest and any overcollateralization
that has been created, the principal
balance of your certificate will be
reduced proportionately with the
balances of the other Class [ ]
certificates by the amount of that
excess;
o if you buy a Class [ ] certificate
and losses in any month exceed excess
interest and any overcollateralization
that has been created plus the total
balance of the Class [ ] certificates,
the principal balance of your
certificate will be reduced
proportionately with the balances of
the other Class [ ] certificates by
the amount of that excess; and
o if you buy a Class [ ] certificate
and losses in any month exceed excess
interest and any overcollateralization
that has been created plus the total
balance of the Class [ ] and Class [ ]
certificates, the principal balance of
your certificate will be reduced
proportionately with the balances of
the other Class [ ] certificates by
the amount of that excess.
If, after overcollateralization is created
in the required amount, the mortgage loans
generate interest in excess of the amount
needed to pay interest and principal on the
certificates and fees and expenses of the
trust fund, the excess interest will be
used to pay you and other
certificateholders the amount of any
reduction in the principal balances of the
certificates by application of losses.
These payments will be made in order of
seniority. We cannot assure you, however,
that any excess interest will be generated
and, in any event, no interest will be paid
to you on the amount by which your
principal balance was reduced because of
the application of losses.
See "Description of the Certificates --
Credit Enhancement -- Subordination" and
"-- Application of Losses" in this
prospectus supplement.]
[Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Guaranties. The
assets of the trust include Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac certificates. Although payments
on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac certificates
are guaranteed by those respective
agencies, these agencies' guaranties are
not backed by the full faith and credit of
the United States. Neither the United
States nor any U.S. agency is obligated to
finance or otherwise assist either Fannie
Mae or Freddie Mac in any manner.
Therefore, if the Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac certificates do not pay as expected,
you might suffer a loss on your investment
in the certificates.]
Unpredictability and
Effect of Prepayments Borrowers may prepay their mortgage loans
in whole or in part at any time. A
prepayment of a mortgage loan will usually
result in a prepayment on the certificates.
o If you purchase your certificates at
a discount and principal is repaid
slower than you anticipate, then your
yield may be lower than you
anticipate.
o If you purchase your certificates at
a premium and principal is repaid
faster than you anticipate, then your
yield may be lower than you
anticipate.
Approximately [ ]% of the mortgage loans
impose a penalty for prepayments during
periods that range from [one to five] years
after origination, which may discourage
these borrowers from prepaying their
mortgage loans during the penalty period.
The prepayment experience of the mortgage
loans may differ significantly from that of
other first lien residential mortgage
loans. The rate at which prepayments,
defaults and losses occur on the mortgage
loans will affect the average life and
yield on the certificates.
See "Yield, Prepayment, and Weighted
Average Life" in this prospectus supplement
for a description of factors that may
influence the rate and timing of
prepayments on the mortgage loans.
Geographic Concentration
of Mortgage Loans [Approximately [[ ]]% of the mortgage loans
expected to be in the trust fund on the
closing date are secured by properties in
California. The rate of delinquencies,
defaults and losses on the mortgage loans,
and therefore the rate of prepayments on
the mortgage loans, may be higher than if
fewer of the mortgage loans were
concentrated in one state because the
following conditions in California will
have a disproportionate impact on the
mortgage loans in general:
o weak economic conditions in
California (which may or may not
affect real property values) may
affect the ability of borrowers to
repay their mortgage loans on time;
o properties in California may be more
susceptible than homes located in
other parts of the country to certain
types of uninsurable hazards, such as
earthquakes, as well as floods,
wildfires, mudslides and other natural
disasters;
o declines in the California
residential real estate market may
reduce the values of properties
located in California, which would
result in an increase in the
loan-to-value ratios; and
o Any increase in the market value of
properties located in California would
reduce the loan-to-value ratios of the
mortgage loans and could, therefore,
make alternative sources of financing
available to the borrowers at lower
interest rates, which could result in
an increased rate of prepayment of the
mortgage loans.
Natural disasters affect regions of the
United States from time to time, which may
result in increased losses on mortgage
loans in those regions, or in insurance
payments that will be counted as
prepayments of those mortgage loans.
Recently, several southeastern states have
been affected by hurricane and storm
activity. Approximately [ ]% of the
mortgage loans expected to be in the trust
fund on the closing date are secured by
property in [Alabama, Florida, Georgia and
Mississippi], and some of those properties
may have been damaged or destroyed by these
storms.]
For additional information regarding the
geographic distribution of the mortgage
loans in the trust fund, see the applicable
table under "Description of the Mortgage
Pool" in this prospectus supplement.
Greater Risk Involving Certain
Property Types Mortgage loans secured by multifamily
property, manufactured homes or cooperative
dwellings may result in higher losses as a
result of delinquency, foreclosure or
repossession than loans secured by
single-family property. If these losses are
greater than expected, and credit support
is not available to absorb the losses,
investors in the certificates could suffer
a loss on their investment.
Less Reliable Prepayment Loss
and Foreclosure For Newly
Originated Mortgage Loans [Some of the mortgage loans in the trust
are of relatively recent Information
origin. As a result, reliable prepayment,
loss and foreclosure statistics for these
mortgage loans may not be available, and
the rating agencies may have difficulty in
estimating potential losses on the mortgage
loans. If losses on these mortgage loans
are greater than expected, investors in the
certificates may experience a loss on their
investment.]
Limited Ability to Resell The certificates will not be listed on any
securities exchange. The underwriter is not
required to assist in resales of the
certificates, although it may do so. A
secondary market for the certificates may
not develop. If a secondary market does
develop, it might not continue, or it might
not be sufficiently liquid to allow you to
resell your certificates, or to resell them
at the price you desire.
Insolvency of Seller Could
Cause Losses The seller and the depositor intend that
the transfers of the mortgage loans to the
depositor and, in turn, to the trust fund
constitute sales rather than pledges to
secure indebtedness, for insolvency
purposes. In the event of the bankruptcy of
a prior owner of the assets, a bankruptcy
trustee or creditor of the insolvent party
could attempt to recharacterize the sale of
the mortgage loans as a borrowing secured
by a pledge of assets. If that position is
argued in or accepted by a court, investors
could suffer delays in payment, or losses,
on the certificates.
[Additional risk factors to be provided as applicable.]
<PAGE>
Description of the Certificates
General
[The Series [ ] Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates (the "Certificates")
will consist of the following Classes:
o the Class [ ] Certificates (the "Senior Certificates"),
o the Class [ ] Certificates (the "Subordinate Certificates"), and
o the Class R Certificate (the "Residual Certificate").
The Senior Certificates and the Class [ ] Certificates are sometimes
referred to herein as the "Offered Certificates". Only the Offered
Certificates are offered hereby.]
The Certificates will evidence the entire beneficial ownership interest
in the Trust Fund. The Trust Fund will generally consist of:
o the Mortgage Loans;
o deposits in the Certificate Account made in respect of the Mortgage
Loans;
o property acquired by foreclosure of the Mortgage Loans or deed in
lieu of foreclosure; and
o any applicable insurance policies and all proceeds thereof.
Each Class of Offered Certificates will be issued in the approximate
initial principal amounts specified on the cover page hereof (a "Class
Certificate Principal Amount"). The REMIC residual certificate will be issued
without a principal amount or interest rate, and will be entitled only to the
amounts that are described herein. The original Class Certificate Principal
Amount of the Offered Certificates may be increased or decreased by up to 5%
to the extent that the Cut-off Date Balance (as defined herein) of the
Mortgage Loans is increased or decreased as described under "Description of
the Mortgage Pool" herein.
Distributions on the Offered Certificates will be made on the [25th] day
of each month (or, if the [25th] day is not a Business Day the next succeeding
Business Day), commencing [ ] (each a "Distribution Date"), to
Certificateholders of record on the immediately preceding Record Date. The
"Record Date" for each Distribution Date will be the close of business on the
last Business Day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the
Distribution Date occurs. A "Business Day" is generally any day other than a
Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banks in [New York or [ ] are closed.
Distributions on the Offered Certificates will be made to each registered
holder entitled thereto, either (1) by check mailed to each
Certificateholder's address as it appears on the books of the Trustee, or (2)
at the request, submitted to the Trustee in writing at least five business
days prior to the related Record Date, of any holder of an Offered Certificate
having an initial Certificate Principal Amount of not less than $2,500,000, by
wire transfer (at the expense of the holder) in immediately available funds;
provided, that the final distribution in respect of any Offered Certificate
will be made only upon presentation and surrender of the Certificate at the
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. See "-- The Trustee" herein.
Book-Entry Registration
General
Each Class of Offered Certificates (the "Book-Entry Certificates") will
be issued, maintained and transferred on the book-entry records of The
Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and its Participants in the United States
[or, through Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme (formerly Cedelbank)
(referred to as "Clearstream" herein) or the Euroclear System ("Euroclear") in
Europe] and through [its/their ] participating organizations (each, a
"Participant"). The Book-Entry Certificates will be issued in fully
registered, certificated form in minimum denominations in principal amount of
$[ ] and integral multiples of $1 in excess thereof.
Each Class of Book-Entry Certificates will be represented by one or more
certificates registered in the name of the nominee of DTC. The Depositor has
been informed by DTC that DTC's nominee will be Cede & Co ("Cede").
[Clearstream and Euroclear will hold omnibus positions on behalf of their
Participants through customers' securities accounts in Clearstream's and
Euroclear's names on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn
will hold positions in customers' securities accounts in the depositaries'
names on the books of DTC.] [See "Global Clearance, Settlement and Tax
Documentation Procedures" attached as Annex I hereto.]
No person acquiring an interest in a Book-Entry Certificate (each, a
"Beneficial Owner") will be entitled to receive a certificate representing its
interest (a "Definitive Certificate"), except as set forth below under
"Definitive Certificates" and in the prospectus under "Description of the
Securities -- Book-Entry Registration."
Unless and until Definitive Certificates are issued for the Book-Entry
Certificates:
o the only "Certificateholder" of the Certificates will be Cede & Co.,
as nominee of DTC, and Beneficial owners will not be
Certificateholders as that term is used in the Trust Agreement;
o Beneficial owners of the Certificates offered hereby will receive
all distributions of principal of, and interest on, the Certificates
from the Trustee through DTC [, Clearstream or Euroclear, as
applicable,] and [its/their] Participants.
o While the Certificates are outstanding, under the rules, regulations
and procedures creating and affecting DTC [Clearstream and
Euroclear] and [its/their] operations, DTC [Clearstream and
Euroclear] [is/are] required to make book-entry transfers among
Participants on whose behalf it acts with respect to the
Certificates and is required to receive and transmit distributions
of principal of, and interest on, the Certificates. Participants and
indirect participants with whom Beneficial Owners have accounts with
respect to Certificates are similarly required to make book-entry
transfers and receive and transmit distributions on behalf of their
respective Beneficial Owners. Accordingly, although Beneficial
Owners will not possess certificates, DTC [Clearstream and
Euroclear] [has/have] in place a mechanism by which Beneficial
Owners will receive distributions and will be able to transfer their
interest.
The Residual Certificate will be issued as a single Certificate and
maintained in fully registered certificated form.
Neither the Depositor nor the Trustee or any of their respective
affiliates will have any liability for any actions taken by DTC or its nominee
including, without limitation, actions with respect to any aspect of the
records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests in the Book-Entry Certificates held by Cede, as nominee for DTC, or
with respect to maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to
those beneficial ownership interests.
Definitive Certificates
Definitive Certificates will be issued to Beneficial Owners or their
nominees, respectively, rather than to DTC or its nominee, only under the
limited conditions set forth in the Prospectus under "Description of the
Certificates -- Book-Entry Registration."
Upon the occurrence of an event described in the Prospectus under
"Description of the Securities-- Book-Entry Registration," the Trustee
(through DTC) is required to notify Participants who have ownership of
Book-Entry Certificates as indicated on the records of DTC of the availability
of Definitive Certificates for their Book-Entry Certificates. Upon surrender
by DTC of the Definitive Certificates representing the Book-Entry Certificates
and upon receipt of instructions from DTC for re-registration, the Trustee
will re-issue the Book-Entry Certificates as Definitive Certificates in the
respective principal amounts owned by individual Beneficial Owners, and
thereafter the Trustee will recognize the holders of the Definitive
Certificates as Certificateholders under the Trust Agreement.
For additional information regarding DTC and the Book-Entry Certificates,
see "Description of the Securities -- Book-Entry Registration" in the
Prospectus.
Priority of Distributions
Distributions will be made on each Distribution Date from the Available
Distribution Amount (as defined herein) in the following order of priority:
[To be provided as applicable]
Distributions of Interest
Interest on each Class of Certificates will accrue during each Interest
Accrual Period (as defined herein) at the interest rate specified on the front
cover hereof (the "Certificate Interest Rate") and will be payable to
Certificateholders on each Distribution Date, starting in [ ]. [If
the REMIC residual certificateholder does not exercise its option to purchase
the Mortgage Loans and the other assets of the Trust Fund when it is first
entitled to do so, as described under "--Optional Purchase of Mortgage Loans;
Termination of the Trust" herein, then with respect to each succeeding
Distribution Date the Certificate Interest Rate will be increased [to be
provided as applicable.]] See "-- Optional Purchase of Mortgage Loans;
Termination of the Trust" herein. Interest on the Class [ ] Certificates will
be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Interest
on the Class [ ] Certificates will be calculated on the basis of the actual
number of days and a year of 360 days.
Interest will be distributed, except to the extent described below, from
the Available Distribution Amount on each Distribution Date. Accrued
Certificate Interest not distributed on the Distribution Date related to the
Interest Accrual Period in which it accrued, other than any Net Prepayment
Interest Shortfalls, will be an "Interest Shortfall." Interest will not accrue
on Interest Shortfalls.
o The "Certificate Interest Rate" for each Class of Offered
Certificates will be the per annum rate described on the cover page
hereof.
o The "Net Mortgage Rate" for any Mortgage Loan at any time equals the
Mortgage Rate thereof minus the sum of the [Servicing Fee Rate and
the Trustee Fee Rate] (each as defined herein).
o The "Certificate Principal Amount" of any Certificate as of any
Distribution Date will equal the Certificate Principal Amount as of
the Closing Date as reduced by all amounts previously distributed on
the Certificate in respect of principal and the principal portion of
any Realized Losses previously allocated to the Certificate.
o The "Interest Accrual Period" for (1) the Class [ ] Certificates
will be the calendar month immediately preceding the month in which
the related Distribution Date occurs and (2) the Class [ ]
Certificates will be the period from the preceding Distribution Date
(or from the Closing Date in the case of the first Payment Date) to
and including the day prior to the current Distribution Date.
Prepayment Interest Shortfalls
When a principal prepayment in full is made on a Mortgage Loan, the
mortgagor is charged interest only to the date of the prepayment, instead of
for a full month. Partial Principal Prepayments are applied as of the first
day of the month of receipt, with a resulting reduction in interest payable
for the month during which the partial prepayment is made. Full or partial
prepayments (or proceeds of other liquidations) received during any Prepayment
Period (as defined herein) will be distributed to Certificateholders on the
Distribution Date following the Prepayment Period. To the extent that, as a
result of a full or partial prepayment, a mortgagor is not required to pay a
full month's interest on the amount prepaid, a shortfall in the amount
available to make payment of interest on the Certificates could result. The
difference between one month's interest at the Mortgage Rate (giving effect to
any Relief Act Reduction), as reduced by the Servicing Fee Rate, on a Mortgage
Loan as to which a voluntary prepayment has been made and the amount of
interest actually received in connection with the prepayment is a "Prepayment
Interest Shortfall." With respect to prepayments in full or in part, the
Servicer is obligated to reduce the aggregate of its Servicing Fees (as
defined herein) for the related Distribution Date to fund any Prepayment
Interest Shortfalls. See "Servicing of the Mortgage Loans -- Prepayment
Interest Shortfalls." Any Prepayment Interest Shortfalls not funded by the
Servicer ("Net Prepayment Interest Shortfalls") will be allocated among all
Classes of Certificates, pro rata in proportion to Accrued Certificate
Interest thereon for the related Distribution Date.
Distributions of Principal
Distributions of principal on each Class of the Offered Certificates will
be made on each Distribution Date as described herein in an aggregate amount
equal to the Principal Distribution Amount, to the extent of the Available
Distribution Amount available to make payments in accordance with the
priorities set forth under "-- Priority of Distributions" above. The
"Principal Distribution Amount" for any Distribution Date will, equal [To be
provided as applicable]
The "Scheduled Principal Balance" of any Mortgage Loan as of any date of
determination is generally equal to the principal balance thereof as of the
Cut-off Date, reduced by (1) the principal portion of all Scheduled Payments
due on or before the date of determination, whether or not received, and (2)
all amounts allocable to unscheduled principal payments received on or before
the last day of the Prepayment Period preceding the date of determination.
The "Class Percentage" for each Class of Certificates for each
Distribution Date will be equal to the percentage obtained by dividing the
Class Certificate Principal Amount of the Class immediately prior to the
Distribution Date by the aggregate Certificate Principal Amount of all
Certificates immediately prior to that date. The "Subordinate Class
Percentage" for each Class of Subordinated Certificates for each Distribution
Date will be equal to the percentage obtained by dividing the Class
Certificate Principal Amount of the Class immediately prior to that
Distribution Date by the aggregate Certificate Principal Amount of all
Subordinate Certificates immediately prior to that date.
The "Senior Percentage" for any Distribution Date is the percentage
equivalent of a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate Certificate
Principal Amount of the Senior Certificates immediately prior to the
Distribution Date and the denominator of which is the aggregate Certificate
Principal Amount of all Classes of Certificates immediately prior to that
date. The "Subordinate Percentage" for any Distribution Date will be the
difference between 100% and the Senior Percentage for that date.
[The "Senior Prepayment Percentage" for any Distribution Date will be [To
be provided as applicable]]
[The Subordinate Prepayment Percentage for any Distribution Date will be
the difference between 100% and the Senior Prepayment Percentage for that
date.]
[The "Subordinate Principal Distribution Amount" for each Distribution
Date is equal to the sum of:
[To be provided as applicable]
Available Distribution Amount
The "Due Period" related to each Distribution Date begins on the second
day of the month preceding the month in which the Distribution Date occurs and
ends on the first day of the month in which that Distribution Date occurs. For
each Distribution Date, the "Collection Period" ends on the Business Day
immediately preceding the related Remittance Date. The "Prepayment Period" is
the calendar month preceding the month in which the related Distribution Date
occurs. The "Remittance Date" is the [ ] day (or if the [ ] day is not a
Business Day, the next preceding Business Day) of the month in which the
related Distribution Date occurs.
The "Available Distribution Amount" on each Distribution Date, as more
fully described in the Trust Agreement, will generally equal the sum of the
following amounts:
(1) the total amount of all cash received by the Servicer with respect to
the related Collection Period (or the related Prepayment Period, in the case
of Principal Prepayments) and remitted to the Trustee on the related
Remittance Date, which includes:
(a) Scheduled Payments due on the Mortgage Loans during the related
Due Period and collected prior to the related Remittance Date or advanced
by the Servicer (or the Trustee);
(b) payments allocable to principal on the Mortgage Loans (other
than Liquidation Proceeds and Insurance Proceeds) to the extent received
in advance of their scheduled due dates and applied to reduce the
principal balance of the Mortgage Loans ("Principal Prepayments"),
together with accrued interest thereon, if any, identified as having been
received on the Mortgage Loans during the Prepayment Period, plus any
amounts paid by the Servicer in respect of Prepayment Interest
Shortfalls, in each case for that Distribution Date;
(c) the proceeds of any repurchase of a Mortgage Loan required to be
repurchased by the Servicer, the Seller or any other party as a result of
a breach of a representation or warranty; and
(d) Insurance Proceeds and Liquidation Proceeds, minus:
o all Scheduled Payments of principal and interest collected
but due on a date subsequent to the related Due Period;
o all Principal Prepayments received or identified after the
related Prepayment Period (together with any interest
payments, if any, received with the prepayments to the
extent that they represent (in accordance with the
Servicer's usual application of funds) the payment of
interest accrued on the related Mortgage Loans for the
period subsequent to the related Prepayment Period);
o Liquidation Proceeds and Insurance Proceeds received after
the related Prepayment Period with respect to the Mortgage
Loans; and
o all amounts due or reimbursable to the Trustee pursuant to
the Trust Agreement and to the Servicer pursuant to the
Sale and Servicing Agreement; and
(2) any other payments made by the Servicer, the Seller or the Depositor
with respect to that Distribution Date.
"Insurance Proceeds" means all proceeds of applicable insurance policies,
to the extent those proceeds are not applied to the restoration of the
Mortgaged Property or released to the Mortgagor.
"Liquidation Proceeds" means all amounts net of unreimbursed expenses
incurred in connection with liquidation or foreclosure and unreimbursed
Advances, if any, received and retained in connection with the liquidation of
defaulted Mortgage Loans, by foreclosure or otherwise, together with any net
proceeds received on a monthly basis with respect to any properties acquired
on behalf of the Certificateholders by foreclosure or deed in lieu of
foreclosure.
Credit Enhancement
Credit enhancement for each Class of Certificates will take the form of
[described as applicable]:
o [an irrevocable letter of credit]
o [the subordination of the Subordinate Certificates to the Senior
Certificates]
o [reserve funds]
o [a pool insurance policy, bankruptcy bond, repurchase bond or
special hazard insurance policy]
o [a surety bond or certificate guarantee insurance policy]
o [the use of cross-support features]
[The Residual Certificate
In addition to distributions of principal and interest, the holder of the
Residual Certificate will be entitled to receive, generally, (1) the amount,
if any, of any Available Distribution Amount remaining on any Distribution
Date after distributions of principal and interest are made on the regular
interests and on the Residual Certificate on that date and (2) the proceeds,
if any, of the assets of the Trust Fund remaining after the principal amounts
of the regular interests and of the Residual Certificate have been reduced to
zero. It is generally not anticipated that any material assets will be
remaining for distributions at that time. See "Material Federal Income Tax
Considerations" herein and in the accompanying Prospectus.]
[Allocation of Realized Losses
On each Distribution Date, subject to the limitations set forth below
with respect to Special Hazard Losses, Fraud Losses and Bankruptcy Losses, the
principal portion of any Realized Losses on the Mortgage Loans will be
allocated to and reduce the Class Certificate Principal Amounts of, first, the
Class [ _________ ] Certificates, in that order, until the Class Certificate
Principal Amount of each Class of Certificates has been reduced to zero,
before being allocated to the Senior Certificates, pro rata in proportion to,
and in reduction of, their respective outstanding Class Certificate Principal
Amounts.
The Class Certificate Principal Amount of the lowest ranking Class of
Subordinate Certificates then outstanding will also be reduced by the amount,
if any, by which the aggregate Certificate Principal Amount of all the
Certificates on any Distribution Date (after giving effect to distributions of
principal and allocation of Realized Losses on that date) exceeds the
aggregate Scheduled Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans for the related
Distribution Date.
In general, a "Realized Loss" means (1) with respect to a Liquidated
Mortgage Loan, the amount by which the remaining unpaid principal balance of
the Mortgage Loan plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and any related
expenses exceeds the amount of Liquidation Proceeds received in respect of the
Mortgage Loan (net of related expenses), or (2) the amount by which, in the
event of bankruptcy of a borrower, a bankruptcy court reduces the secured debt
to the value of the related Mortgaged Property (a "Deficient Valuation").
o "Bankruptcy Losses" are losses that are incurred as a result of
Deficient Valuations and any reduction, in a bankruptcy proceeding,
of the amount of the Scheduled Payment on a Mortgage Loan other than
as a result of a Deficient Valuation (a "Debt Service Reduction").
The principal portion of Debt Service Reductions will not be
allocated in reduction of the Class Certificate Principal Balances
of any Classes of Certificates.
o "Special Hazard Losses" are, in general terms, Realized Losses
arising out of certain direct physical loss or damage to Mortgaged
Properties that are not covered by a standard hazard insurance
policy, but excluding, among other things, faulty design or
workmanship and normal wear and tear.
o "Fraud Losses" are losses sustained on Liquidated Mortgage Loans by
reason of a default arising from fraud, dishonesty or
misrepresentations. In determining whether a Realized Loss is a loss
of principal or of interest, Liquidation Proceeds and other
recoveries on a Mortgage Loan will be applied first to outstanding
expenses incurred with respect to the Mortgage Loan, then to
accrued, unpaid interest, and finally to principal.
A "Liquidated Mortgage Loan" generally is a defaulted Mortgage Loan as to
which the Mortgage Loan or related REO Property has been disposed of and all
amounts expected to be recovered in respect of the Mortgage Loan have been
received by the Servicer on behalf of the Trust.
[The principal portion of Special Hazard Losses, Bankruptcy Losses (other
than Debt Service Reductions), and Fraud Losses that exceed the "Special
Hazard Loss Limit," "Bankruptcy Loss Limit," and "Fraud Loss Limit,"
respectively ("Excess Losses"), will be allocated pro rata among all Classes
of Certificates in proportion to, and in reduction of, their respective
outstanding Class Certificate Principal Amounts. The "Special Hazard Loss
Limit" will initially be approximately $[ ], the "Bankruptcy Loss Limit" will
initially be approximately $[ ], and the "Fraud Loss Limit" will initially be
approximately $[ ].]
[The Special Hazard Loss Limit will be reduced, from time to time, to an
amount equal on any Distribution Date to the lesser of:
(1) the greatest of:
o [ ]% of the aggregate of the Scheduled Principal Balances of
the Mortgage Loans,
o [ ] the Scheduled Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loan having
the highest Scheduled Principal Balance, and
o the aggregate Scheduled Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans
secured by Mortgaged Properties located in the single
California postal zip code area having the highest aggregate
Scheduled Principal Balance of that zip code area, and
(2) the Special Hazard Loss Limit as of the Closing Date less the amount,
if any, of Special Hazard Losses incurred since the Closing Date.]
[The Bankruptcy Loss Limit will be reduced, from time to time, by the
amount of Bankruptcy Losses allocated to the Certificates. The date on which
the Bankruptcy Loss Limit has been reduced to zero is the "Bankruptcy Coverage
Termination Date."]
[The Fraud Loss Limit will be reduced, from time to time, by the amount
of Fraud Losses allocated to the Certificates. In addition, on each
anniversary of the Cut-off Date, the Fraud Loss Limit will be reduced as
follows: (a) on the first and second anniversaries of the Cut-off Date, to an
amount equal to the excess of [ ]% of the aggregate Scheduled Principal
Balance of the Mortgage Loans as of the Cut-off Date (the "Cut-off Date
Balance") over the cumulative amount of Fraud Losses allocated to the
Certificates, (b) on the third and fourth anniversaries of the Cut-off Date,
to an amount equal to the excess of [ ]% of the Cut-off Date Balance over the
cumulative amount of Fraud Losses allocated to the Certificates and (c) on the
fifth anniversary of the Cut-off Date, to zero.]
In the event that any amount is recovered in respect of principal of a
Liquidated Mortgage Loan after any related Realized Loss has been allocated as
described herein, that amount will be distributed to the Certificates still
outstanding, pro rata on the basis of any Realized Losses previously allocated
thereto. It is generally not anticipated that those amounts will be
recovered.]
Final Scheduled Distribution Date
Scheduled distributions on the Mortgage Loans included in the Trust Fund,
assuming no defaults or losses that are not covered by the credit support
described elsewhere herein, will be sufficient to make timely distributions of
interest on the Offered Certificates and to reduce the aggregate Certificate
Principal Amount of the Offered Certificates to zero not later than [ ________
]. The actual final Distribution Date for the Offered Certificates may be
earlier or later, and could be substantially earlier, than their Final
Scheduled Distribution Date.
The Final Scheduled Distribution Date for the Offered Certificates has
been determined by adding one month to the month of scheduled maturity of the
latest maturing Mortgage Loan.
Optional Termination of the Trust
On any Distribution Date after the date on which the aggregate Scheduled
Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans is less than [ ]% of the Cut-off Date
Balance, the [ ] (subject to the terms of the Trust Agreement)
will have the option to cause the sale of the Mortgage Loans, any REO Property
and any other property remaining in the Trust Fund and thereby effect the
termination of the Trust Fund and the retirement of the Certificates. The
purchase price of the Mortgage Loans must be equal to the sum of (1) 100% of
the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Mortgage Loans, plus
accrued interest thereon at the applicable Mortgage Rate and (2) the fair
market value of all other property remaining in the Trust Fund. The
liquidation will be treated as a prepayment in full of the Mortgage Loans for
purposes of distributions to Certificateholders. Upon payment in full to
Certificateholders of these amounts, the Trust Fund will be terminated.
The Trustee
[ ], will be the Trustee under the Trust Agreement. The Trustee
will be paid a monthly fee equal to [ ]% per annum (the "Trustee Fee Rate") of
the aggregate principal balance of the Mortgage Loans (the "Trustee Fee"), and
will also be entitled to retain, as additional compensation, any interest or
other income earned on funds deposited in the Certificate Account pending
distribution to Certificateholders. The Trustee's "Corporate Trust Office" for
purposes of the presentment and surrender of the Offered Certificates for the
final distribution thereon and for all other purposes is located at [ ],
[ ], Attention: [ ]), or any other address as the Trustee may
designate from time to time by notice to the Certificateholders, the Depositor
and the Servicer.
Description of the Mortgage Pool
General
The Mortgage Pool will consist of approximately [ ] conventional,
adjustable rate, monthly payment Mortgage Loans with original terms to
maturity of not more than [ ] years. The Mortgage Loans had an aggregate
Scheduled Principal Balance as of the Cut-off Date of approximately $[ ]. The
Mortgage Loans were originated or acquired by [Originator] generally in
accordance with the underwriting criteria then in effect as described herein.
Interest on the Mortgage Loans accrues on the basis of a 360-day year
consisting of twelve 30-day months. Wherever reference is made herein to a
percentage of some or all of the Mortgage Loans, that percentage is determined
(unless otherwise specified) on the basis of the aggregate Scheduled Principal
Balance of the Mortgage Loans as of the Cut-off Date.
Each Mortgage Loan bears interest at a Mortgage Rate that is [To be
provided as applicable]
The weighted average Loan-to-Value Ratio of the Mortgage Loans at
origination was approximately [ ]%, and no Mortgage Loan had a Loan-to-Value
Ratio at origination exceeding [ ]%. None of the Mortgaged Loans are covered
by primary mortgage insurance. The "Loan-to-Value Ratio" of a Mortgage Loan at
any time is the ratio of the principal balance of the Mortgage Loan at the
date of determination to (1) in the case of a purchase, the lesser of the sale
price of the Mortgaged Property and its appraised value at the time of sale,
or (2) in the case of a refinance or modification, the appraised value of the
Mortgaged Property at the time of any refinance or modification.
The Mortgage Loans are expected to have the following approximate
aggregate characteristics as of the Cut-off Date. Prior to the issuance of the
Certificates, Mortgage Loans may be removed from the Trust Fund as a result of
incomplete documentation or otherwise, if the Depositor deems removal
necessary or appropriate. In addition, a limited number of other mortgage
loans may be included in the Trust Fund prior to the issuance of the Offered
Certificates.
Number of Mortgage Loans.................... [ ]
Aggregate Scheduled Principal
Balance................................... $[ ]
Mortgage Rates:
Weighted Average.......................... [ ]%
Range..................................... [ ]% to [ ]%
Weighted Average Remaining Term
to Maturity (in months).................... [ ]
The Scheduled Principal Balances of the Mortgage Loans ranged from $[ ]
to $[ ]. The Mortgage Loans had an average Scheduled Principal Balance of
approximately $[ ].
No more than approximately [ ]% of the Mortgage Loans were secured by
Mortgaged Properties located in any one zip code area.
[None of the Mortgage Loans are subject to negative amortization.]
The following tables set forth, as of the Cut-off Date, the number,
aggregate Scheduled Principal Balance and percentage of the Mortgage Loans
having the stated characteristics shown in the tables in each range.
(The sum of the amounts of the aggregate Scheduled Principal Balances and
the percentages in the following tables may not equal the totals due to
rounding.)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Original Loan-to-Value Ratios
Percentage of
Aggregate Mortgage Loans
Scheduled by Aggregate
Range of Original Loan-to- Number of Principal Scheduled
Value Ratios* (%) Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
-------------------------- --------------- ------------ -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$ %
Total........... $ 100.00%
==== ============= ======
The weighted average original Loan-to-Value Ratio is approximately [ ]%.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Mortgage Rates
Percentage of
Aggregate Mortgage Loans
Scheduled by Aggregate
Range of Number of Principal Scheduled
Mortgage Rates (%) Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
---------------------------- --------------- ------------ -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$ %
Total............. $ 100.00%
==== ============= ======
The weighted average Mortgage Rate is approximately [ ]%.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Original Terms to Maturity
Percentage of
Aggregate Mortgage Loans
Scheduled by Aggregate
Number of Principal Scheduled
Range of Maturities (months) Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
---------------------------------- --------------- ------------ -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$
Total............. $ 100.00%
==== ============= ======
The weighted average original term to maturity is approximately [ ] months.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Remaining Terms to Maturity
Percentage of
Aggregate Mortgage Loans
Scheduled by Aggregate
Number of Principal Scheduled
Range of Maturities (months) Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
----------------------------- --------------- ------------ -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$ %
Total............. $ 100.00%
==== ============= ======
The weighted average remaining term to maturity is approximately [ ] months.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Geographic Distribution
Percentage of
Aggregate Mortgage Loans
Scheduled by Aggregate
Number of Principal Scheduled
State Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
------------- --------------- ------------ -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
............. $ %
.............
.............
.............
.............
.............
.............
.............
.............
.............
.............
Total $ 100.00%
==== ============= ======
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Scheduled Principal Balances
Percentage of
Aggregate Mortgage Loans
Scheduled by Aggregate
Range of Number of Principal Scheduled
Scheduled Principal Balances ($) Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
-------------------------------- --------------- ------------ -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$ %
Total................ $ 100.00%
==== ============= ======
The average Scheduled Principal Balance is approximately $[ ].
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Property Types
Percentage of
Aggregate Mortgage Loans
Scheduled by Aggregate
Number of Principal Scheduled
Property Type Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
------------------------ --------------- ------------ -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$ %
Total......... $ 100.00%
==== ============= ======
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Loan Purposes
Percentage of
Aggregate Mortgage Loans
Scheduled by Aggregate
Number of Principal Scheduled
Loan Purposes Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
------------------ -------------- ------------ -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$ %
Total $ 100.00%
============= ======
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Occupancy Status
Percentage of
Aggregate Mortgage Loans
Scheduled by Aggregate
Number of Principal Scheduled
Occupancy Status Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
---------------- -------------- ------------ -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$ %
Total........ $ 100.00%
==== ============= ======
</TABLE>
[The Index [if applicable]
The Index used in the determination of the Mortgage Rates of the Mortgage
Loans will be [ ], as published by [ ](the "Index").
<PAGE>
Additional Information
The description in this Prospectus Supplement of the Mortgage Loans and
the Mortgaged Properties is based upon the pool of Mortgage Loans as
constituted at the close of business on the Cut-off Date, as adjusted for
Scheduled Payments due on or before that date. A Current Report on Form 8-K
will be available to purchasers of the Offered Certificates and will be filed,
together with the Trust Agreement and the Sale and Servicing Agreement, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission within fifteen days after the initial
issuance of the Offered Certificates. In the event Mortgage Loans are removed
from or added to the pool of Mortgage Loans as set forth under "Description of
The Mortgage Pool," the removal or addition will be noted in the Current
Report on Form 8-K.
[The Servicer]
General
The information in this section has been provided by [Servicer]. Neither
the Depositor nor the Underwriter makes any representations or warranties as
to the accuracy or completeness of this information.
Delinquency Experience
Generally, when a mortgagor fails to make a required payment on a
mortgage loan and does not cure the deficiency promptly, the loan is
classified as delinquent. In many cases, delinquencies are cured promptly, but
if not, foreclosure proceedings are generally commenced. The procedural steps
necessary for foreclosure vary from state to state, but generally, if the loan
is not reinstated within certain periods specified by the relevant mortgage
loan documents, the property securing the loan can be acquired by the lender.
If a mortgagee takes title to the mortgaged property through foreclosure but
the mortgaged property had a value lower than the outstanding amount of the
debt, the law in certain states permits the mortgagee to obtain a deficiency
judgment in the amount of the difference. The laws of certain other states
restrict or prohibit deficiency judgments. It is anticipated that, in those
states where deficiency judgments are permitted, the Servicer will determine
on a case-by-case basis whether to seek a deficiency judgment.
Loan Servicing Activities
As of [ ], [Servicer]'s total loan portfolio contained loans with an
aggregate outstanding principal balance of approximately $[ ] billion. The
loans contained in [the Servicer]'s servicing portfolio include fixed and
adjustable rate loans, first and second lien loans and one- to four family
loans, and therefore may differ significantly from the Mortgage Loans. There
can be no assurance, and no representation is made, that the delinquency
experience with respect to the Mortgage Loans will be similar to that
reflected in the table below, nor is any representation made as to the rate at
which losses may be experienced on liquidation of defaulted Mortgage Loans.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
delinquency experience of [Originator] with respect to all mortgage loans
serviced by it. The indicated periods of delinquency are based on the number
of days past due on a contractual basis.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Mortgage Loan Portfolio(1)
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
[Date] [Date]
----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Number Dollar Number Dollar
of Loans Amount Percent of Loans Amount Percent
-------- ------ ------- -------- ------ -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Portfolio Principal
Balance.................... $ 100.00% $ 100.00%
Delinquent Loans
30-59 days delinquent......
60-89 days delinquent......
90+ days delinquent........
Non-accrual Loans(2).......
Total........................
Net Charge-offs..............
REO..........................
---------
(1) Percentages in the table are rounded to the nearest 0.01%;
dollar amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar.
(2) In general, a "Non-accrual Loan" is a Mortgage Loan as to which
(1) payments are delinquent for a specified period (based on the
principal balance of the loan) or (2) [the Servicer] determines that
collection is in doubt.
</TABLE>
The above delinquency statistics represent the recent experience of [the
Servicer]. There can be no assurance, however, that the delinquency experience
on the Mortgage Loans will be comparable. In addition, the foregoing
statistics include mortgage loans with a variety of payment and other
characteristics that may not correspond to those of the Mortgage Loans. The
actual loss and delinquency experience on the Mortgage Loans will depend on,
among other things, the value of the real estate and cooperative shares
securing the Mortgage Loans and the ability of the mortgagors to make required
payments. If [the Servicer] undertakes litigation or retains outside attorneys
or investigators the cost thereof will be borne by the Trust Fund or the
Certificateholders. [the Servicer] will not be required to advance funds for
the conduct of litigation or the hiring of outside attorneys or investigators,
if it reasonably believes that its advances will not be promptly reimbursed.
The likelihood that mortgagors will become delinquent in the payment of
their mortgage loans and the rate of any subsequent foreclosures may be
affected by a number of factors related to borrowers' personal circumstances,
including, for example, unemployment or change in employment (or in the case
of self- employed mortgagors or mortgagors relying on commission income,
fluctuations in income), marital separation and a mortgagor's equity in the
related mortgaged property. In addition, delinquency and foreclosure
experience may be sensitive to adverse economic conditions, either nationally
or regionally, may exhibit seasonal variations and may be influenced by the
level of interest rates and servicing decisions on the applicable mortgage
loans. Regional economic conditions (including declining real estate values)
may particularly affect delinquency and foreclosure experience on mortgage
loans to the extent that mortgaged properties are concentrated in certain
geographic areas.
Servicing of the Mortgage Loans
The Mortgage Loans will be serviced by [Servicer], as Servicer (the
"Servicer"), generally in accordance with the procedures as described in the
Prospectus under the heading "Servicing of Loans," pursuant to an agreement
(the "Sale and Servicing Agreement") between the Seller and [Servicer]. The
Seller's rights under the Sale and Servicing Agreement will be assigned to the
Trustee. References in the Prospectus to the "Master Servicer" generally
include the Servicer, and references in the Prospectus to the "Servicer"
generally include the Subservicer. Although the Servicer will employ the
Subservicer to directly service the Mortgage Loans, the Servicer will remain
liable for its servicing obligations under the Sale and Servicing Agreement as
if the Servicer were directly servicing the Mortgage Loan.
[The Subservicer [if applicable]
The Mortgage Loans will be subserviced by a designated servicing staff of
the [ ] . The Subservicer is [ ]. The Subservicer originates, purchases and
services residential and commercial mortgage loans through approximately [ ]
offices throughout the United States.]
[Insurance Coverage
The Servicer is required to obtain and thereafter maintain in effect a
bond, corporate guaranty or similar form of insurance coverage (which may
provide blanket coverage), or any combination thereof, insuring against loss
occasioned by the errors and omissions of the Servicer's officers and
employees.]
Servicing Compensation and Payment of Expenses
The Servicer will be paid a monthly fee with respect to each Mortgage
Loan equal to [ ]% per annum (the "Servicing Fee Rate") of the principal
balance of the Mortgage Loan (the "Servicing Fee"). The Servicing Fee is
subject to reduction with respect to any Distribution Date as described below
under "-- Prepayment Interest Shortfalls."
The Servicer will be entitled to receive, as additional compensation, any
interest or other income earned on funds it has deposited in a custodial
account pending remittance to the Trustee, as well as certain customary fees
and charges paid by borrowers. The Servicer will also be entitled to
reimbursement for certain expenses prior to distribution of any amounts to
Certificateholders. See "Servicing of Loans -- Servicing Compensation and
Payment of Expenses" in the Prospectus.
Prepayment Interest Shortfalls
When a borrower prepays a Mortgage Loan in full between Due Dates, the
mortgagor pays interest on the amount prepaid only from the last scheduled Due
Date to the date of prepayment. Partial principal prepayments are applied as
of the first day of the month of receipt, with a resulting reduction in
interest payable for the month during which the partial prepayment is made.
Any Prepayment Interest Shortfall is required to be paid by the Servicer, to
the extent that this amount does not exceed the aggregate of the Servicing
Fees on the Mortgage Loans serviced by it for the applicable Distribution
Date, through a reduction in the amount of the Servicing Fees. See
"Description of the Certificates -- Distribution of Interest" herein.
Advances
The Servicer will be obligated to make Advances with respect to
delinquent payments of principal of and interest on the Mortgage Loans,
adjusted to the related Net Mortgage Rate, to the extent that the Advances, in
its judgment, are recoverable from future payments and collections, insurance
payments or proceeds of liquidation of a Mortgage Loan. The Trustee will be
obligated to make any Advances if the Servicer fails to do so, to the extent
provided in the Trust Agreement. The Servicer or the Trustee, as applicable,
will be entitled to recover any Advances made by it with respect to a Mortgage
Loan out of late payments thereon or out of related Liquidation Proceeds and
Insurance Proceeds or, if these amounts are insufficient, from collections on
other Mortgage Loans. Such reimbursements may result in Realized Losses.
The purpose of making Advances is to maintain a regular cash flow to the
Certificateholders, rather than to guarantee or insure against losses. No
party will be required to make any Advance with respect to a reduction in the
amount of the monthly payment on a Mortgage Loan due to a reduction made by a
bankruptcy court in the amount of a Scheduled Payment owed by a mortgagor or a
Relief Act Reduction.
Collection of Taxes, Assessments and Similar Items
The Servicer generally does not require that escrow accounts be
maintained for the collection of hazard insurance premiums and real estate
taxes with respect to the Mortgage Loans. The Servicer will make advances with
respect to delinquencies in required escrow payments by the related
mortgagors.
Certain Rights Related to Foreclosure
[Certain rights in connection with foreclosure of defaulted Mortgage
Loans may be granted to the holders of the Class [ ] Certificates and, when
the Certificates are no longer outstanding, to the holders of the Class [ ]
Certificates. These rights would include the right to delay foreclosure until
a Mortgage Loan has been delinquent for six months, provided that upon
election to delay foreclosure the holder establishes a reserve fund for the
benefit of the Trust Fund in an amount equal to 125% of the greater of the
Scheduled Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loan and the appraised value of
the related Mortgaged Property, plus three months' accrued interest on the
Mortgage Loan. Any exercise of the right to delay foreclosure could affect the
amount recovered upon liquidation of the related Mortgaged Property.]
Trust Agreement
General
The Certificates will be issued pursuant to a Trust Agreement (the "Trust
Agreement") dated as of [ ] 1, [ ] between the Depositor and the Trustee.
Reference is made to the Prospectus for important information in addition to
that set forth herein regarding the terms and conditions of the Trust
Agreement and the Offered Certificates. Offered Certificates in certificated
form will be transferable and exchangeable at the corporate trust office of
the Trustee, which will serve as Certificate Registrar and Paying Agent. The
Depositor will provide to a prospective or actual Certificateholder, without
charge, on written request, a copy (without exhibits) of the Trust Agreement.
Requests should be addressed to Contract Finance, Lehman Brothers, 3 World
Financial Center, New York, New York 10285.
Assignment of Mortgage Loans
The Mortgage Loans will be assigned to the Trustee, together with all
principal and interest due on the Mortgage Loans after the Cut-off Date. The
Trustee will, concurrently with the assignment, authenticate and deliver the
Certificates. Each Mortgage Loan will be identified in a schedule appearing as
an exhibit to the Trust Agreement which will specify with respect to each
Mortgage Loan, among other things, the original principal amount and the
outstanding principal amount as of the close of business on the Cut-off Date,
the Mortgage Rate, the Scheduled Payment, and the maturity date.
As to each Mortgage Loan, the following documents are generally required
to be delivered to the Trustee (or its custodian) in accordance with the Trust
Agreement:
o the related original Mortgage Note endorsed without recourse to the
Trustee or in blank,
o the original Mortgage with evidence of recording indicated thereon,
(or, if the original recorded Mortgage has not yet been returned by
the recording office, a copy thereof certified to be a true and
complete copy of the Mortgage sent for recording) or, in the case of
a Cooperative Loan, the original security agreement and related
documents,
o an original assignment of the Mortgage to the Trustee or in blank in
recordable form or, in the case of a Cooperative Loan, an original
assignment of security agreement and related documents,
o the policies of title insurance issued with respect to each Mortgage
Loan (other than a Cooperative Loan), and
o the originals of any assumption, modification, extension or guaranty
agreements.
Where necessary to protect the interest of the Trustee in the Mortgage
Loans, the assignments to the Trustee in connection with the Mortgage Loans
are required to be submitted for recording promptly after the Closing Date. A
custodian acting on behalf of the Seller will have reviewed each mortgage file
prior to the Closing Date and, if any document is found to be defective in any
material respect and [Originator] does not cure the defect within 90 days of
notice thereof, [Originator] will obligated to purchase the related Mortgage
Loan from the Trust Fund (or, in certain circumstances, substitute another
mortgage loan).
Pursuant to the terms of the Sale and Servicing Agreement, [Originator]
has made, as of the date of the agreement (the "Sale Date"), to the Seller
certain representations and warranties concerning the Mortgage Loans that
include representations and warranties similar to those summarized in the
Prospectus under the heading "Loan Underwriting Procedures and Standards --
Representations and Warranties." The Seller's rights under the Sale and
Servicing Agreement will be assigned to the Trustee for the benefit of
Certificateholders. Within 90 days following its discovery of a breach of any
representation or warranty that materially or adversely affects the interests
of Certificateholders in a Mortgage Loan, or receipt of notice of the breach,
[Originator] will be obligated to purchase the affected Mortgage Loan from the
Trust Fund for a price equal to the unpaid principal balance thereof plus
accrued interest thereon (or, in certain circumstances, substitute another
mortgage loan).
The Seller will make to the Depositor (and the Depositor will assign its
rights thereunder to the Trustee for the benefit of Certificateholders) only
certain limited representations and warranties intended to address certain
material conditions that may arise with respect to the Mortgage Loans between
the Sale Date and the Closing Date. In the event of a breach of any
representation or warranty that does not constitute a breach of any
representation or warranty made by [Originator] as described above, the Seller
will be obligated in the same manner as [Originator], as described above.
To the extent that any Mortgage Loan is not repurchased by [Originator]
or the Seller and a Realized Loss occurs on the Mortgage Loan, holders of
Offered Certificates, in particular the Subordinate Certificates, may incur a
loss.
Voting Rights
Voting rights under the Trust Agreement will be allocated among the
Certificates in proportion to their respective Certificate Principal Amounts.
Yield, Prepayment and Weighted Average Life
General
The yields to maturity on the Offered Certificates will be affected by
the rate of principal payments on the Mortgage Loans (including prepayments,
which may include amounts received by virtue of repurchase, condemnation,
insurance or foreclosure), the extent to which Mortgage Loans bearing higher
Mortgage Rates prepay at a more rapid rate than Mortgage Loans with lower
rates, the amount and timing of mortgagor delinquencies and defaults resulting
in Realized Losses, the purchase price for the Certificates and other factors.
Principal prepayments may be influenced by a variety of economic,
geographic, demographic, social, tax, legal and other factors. In general, if
prevailing interest rates fall below the interest rates on the Mortgage Loans,
the Mortgage Loans are likely to be subject to a higher rate of prepayment
than if prevailing rates remain at or above the interest rates on the Mortgage
Loans. Conversely, if prevailing interest rates rise above the interest rates
on the Mortgage Loans, the rate of prepayment would be expected to decrease.
Other factors affecting prepayment of the Mortgage Loans include changes in
borrowers' housing needs, job transfers, unemployment, mortgagors' net equity
in the mortgaged properties, changes in the value of the mortgaged properties,
mortgage market interest rates and servicing decisions. The Mortgage Loans may
generally be prepaid at any time without penalty and generally have
due-on-sale clauses.
The rate of principal payments on the Mortgage Loans will be affected by
the amortization schedules of the Mortgage Loans, the rate and timing of
prepayments thereon by the mortgagors, liquidations of defaulted Mortgage
Loans and repurchases of Mortgage Loans due to certain breaches of
representations and warranties or defective documentation. The weighted
average remaining term to maturity of the Mortgage Loans is approximately [ ]
months; seasoning may influence the performance of the Mortgage Loans. The
timing of changes in the rate of prepayments, liquidations and repurchases of
the Mortgage Loans may, and the timing of Realized Losses will, significantly
affect the yield to an investor, even if the average rate of principal
payments experienced over time is consistent with an investor's expectation.
Since the rate and timing of principal payments on the Mortgage Loans will
depend on future events and on a variety of factors (as described more fully
herein and in the Prospectus under "Yield, Prepayment and Maturity
Considerations"), no assurance can be given as to the actual rate or the
timing of principal payments on the Offered Certificates. In general, the
earlier a prepayment of principal of the related Mortgage Loans, the greater
the effect on an investor's yield to maturity. The effect on an investor's
yield of principal payments occurring at a rate higher (or lower) than the
rate anticipated by the investor during the period immediately following the
issuance of the Certificates may not be offset by a subsequent like decrease
(or increase) in the rate of principal payments.
Prepayments, liquidations and repurchases of the Mortgage Loans will
result in distributions to holders of the Offered Certificates of principal
amounts that would otherwise be distributed over the remaining terms of the
Mortgage Loans. The rate of defaults on the Mortgage Loans will also affect
the rate and timing of principal payments on the Mortgage Loans. In general,
defaults on mortgage loans are expected to occur with greater frequency in
their early years.
As described herein, approximately [ ]% of the Mortgage Loans do not
provide for monthly payments of principal for the first ten years following
origination. Instead, only monthly payments of interest are due during that
period. Other considerations aside, because of these characteristics,
borrowers may be disinclined to prepay the loans during the ten year period.
In addition, because no principal is due on the loans for their initial ten
year period, the Certificates will amortize at a slower rate during that
period than would otherwise be the case. Thereafter, when the monthly payments
on the loans are recalculated on the basis of a twenty year, level payment
amortization schedule as described herein, principal payments on the
Certificates are expected to increase correspondingly, and, in any case, at a
faster rate than if payments on the underlying loans were calculated on the
basis of a thirty year amortization schedule. The Mortgage Loans were
generally originated (or modified) with Mortgage Rates for their first three
years below the rate that would have resulted if based on the Index and
related Gross Margin. The Mortgage Loans may experience lower rates of
prepayment during the period that the loans bear interest at the lower
Mortgage Rates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no assurance can be given as to
any prepayment rate on the Mortgage Loans.
The Certificate Interest Rate for the Offered Certificates at any time
will be capped at a rate equal to the weighted average of the Net Mortgage
Rates of the Mortgage Loans. To the extent that Mortgage Loans bearing
relatively high Mortgage Rates experience a more rapid rate of prepayment than
Mortgage Loans with relatively low rates, the Certificate Interest Rate for
the Offered Certificates will be reduced, and this reduction could be
substantial.
If the purchaser of a Certificate offered at a discount from its initial
principal amount calculates its anticipated yield to maturity based on an
assumed rate of payment of principal that is faster than that actually
experienced on the related Mortgage Loans, the actual yield to maturity may be
lower than that so calculated. Conversely, if the purchaser of a Certificate
offered at a premium calculates its anticipated yield to maturity based on an
assumed rate of payment of principal that is slower than that actually
experienced on the related Mortgage Loans, the actual yield to maturity may be
lower than that so calculated.
The yields on the Offered Certificates will be reduced to the extent that
Net Prepayment Interest Shortfalls are experienced on the Mortgage Loans.
The effective yields to holders of the Offered Certificates will be lower
than the yields otherwise produced by the Certificate Interest Rate and the
related purchase price because monthly distributions will not be made to the
holders until the [ ] day (or the immediately following Business Day if the [
] day is not a Business Day) of the month following the month in which
interest accrues on the Certificate (without any additional distribution of
interest or earnings thereon in respect of any delay.
[Subordination of the Class [ ]Certificates
On each Distribution Date, the holders of any higher ranking Class of
Certificates will have a preferential right to receive amounts of interest and
principal due to them on that Distribution Date before any distributions are
made on any Class of Certificates subordinate to that Class. As a result, the
yields to maturity and the aggregate amount of distributions on the Class [ ]
Certificates will be more sensitive than the yields of higher ranking
Certificates to the rate of delinquencies and defaults on the Mortgage Loans.
As more fully described herein, the principal portion of Realized Losses
(other than Excess Losses) on the Mortgage Loans will be allocated first to
the lower ranking Classes of Subordinate Certificates, then to the Class [ ]
Certificates, then to the Class [ ] Certificates, and then to the Class [ ]
Certificates, in that order, until the Class Certificate Principal Amount of
each Class has been reduced to zero, before any Realized Losses will be
allocated to the Senior Certificates. The interest portion of Realized Losses
(other than Excess Losses) will reduce the amount available for distribution
on the related Distribution Date to the lowest ranking Class or Classes of
Certificates outstanding on that date.]
Weighted Average Life
Weighted average life refers to the average amount of time that will
elapse from the date of issuance of a security to the date of distribution to
the investor of each dollar distributed in net reduction of principal of the
security (assuming no losses). The weighted average lives of the Offered
Certificates will be influenced by, among other things, the rate at which
principal of the Mortgage Loans is paid, which may be in the form of scheduled
amortization, prepayments or liquidations.
Prepayments on mortgage loans are commonly measured relative to a
[ ] prepayment standard or model. The model used in this Prospectus
Supplement for the Mortgage Loans ("[ ]") represents [ ].
[ ] does not purport to be either a historical description of the
prepayment experience of any pool of mortgage loans or a prediction of the
anticipated rate of prepayment of any mortgage loans, including the Mortgage
Loans to be included in the Trust Fund.
The following tables were prepared based on the actual characteristics of
the Mortgage Loans expected to be included in the Trust Fund and the following
additional assumptions (the "Modeling Assumptions"):
(1) the initial Class Certificate Principal Amounts and the Certificate
Interest Rates are as indicated on the cover of this Prospectus
Supplement;
(2) each Scheduled Payment of principal and/or interest is timely
received every month on the first day of each month commencing in
[ ];
(3) principal prepayments are received in full on the last day of each
month commencing in [ ] and there are no Net Prepayment Interest
Shortfalls;
(4) there are no defaults or delinquencies on the Mortgage Loans;
(5) there are no repurchases or substitutions of the Mortgage Loans; (
(6) there is no optional termination of the Trust Fund, and
(7) the Certificates are issued on [ ].
The actual characteristics of the Mortgage Loans may, and the performance
of the Mortgage Loans will, differ from the assumptions used in constructing
the tables set forth below, which are hypothetical in nature and are provided
only to give a general sense of how the principal cash flows might behave
under varying prepayment scenarios.
For example, it is not expected that the Mortgage Loans will prepay at a
constant rate until maturity, that all of the Mortgage Loans will prepay at
the same rate or that there will be no defaults or delinquencies on the
Mortgage Loans. Moreover, the diverse remaining terms to maturity of the
Mortgage Loans could produce slower or faster principal distributions than
indicated in the tables at the various percentages of [ ] specified, even if
the weighted average remaining term to maturity of the Mortgage Loans is as
assumed. Any difference between the assumptions and the actual characteristics
and performance of the Mortgage Loans, or actual prepayment or loss
experience, will cause the percentages of initial Class Certificate Principal
Amounts outstanding over time and the weighted average lives of the Offered
Certificates to differ (which difference could be material) from the
corresponding information in the tables for each indicated percentage of [ ].
Subject to the foregoing discussion and assumptions, the following tables
indicate the weighted average lives of the Offered Certificates and set forth
the percentages of the initial Class Certificate Principal Amounts of the
Offered Certificates that would be outstanding after each of the Distribution
Dates shown at various percentages of [ ].
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentage of Initial Class Certificate Principal Amount of the
Offered Certificates Outstanding at the Following Percentages of [ ]
Class [ ] Certificates
------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution Date % % % % % % %
------------------------------- -------- ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Initial Percentage............. 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Weighted Average Life
in Years**.............
---------
* Indicates a value between 0.0% and 0.5%.
** The weighted average life of an Offered Certificate is determined
by (1) multiplying the net reduction, if any, of the Class
Certificate Principal Amount by the number of years from the date of
issuance of the Offered Certificate to the related Distribution Date,
(2) adding the results and (3) dividing the sum by the aggregate of
the net reductions of Class Certificate Principal Amount described in
(1) above.
</TABLE>
Material Federal Income Tax Considerations
General
An election will be made to treat the Trust Fund as a REMIC for federal
income tax purposes. In the opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, assuming compliance
with all provisions of the Trust Agreement, for federal income tax purposes
the Trust Fund will qualify as a REMIC pursuant to Section 860D of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the Offered
Certificates other than the Class R Certificate will be considered to be
"regular interests" in the REMIC within the meaning of the Code, and the Class
R Certificate will be considered to be the sole class of "residual interest"
in the REMIC within the meaning of the Code. See "Material Federal Income Tax
Considerations" in the Prospectus.
Although the matter is not free from doubt, the Depositor intends to
report stated interest on the Offered Certificates as "qualified stated
interest."
The Offered Certificates may be issued with original issue discount for
federal income tax purposes. See "Material Federal Income Tax Considerations
- -- REMICs -- Taxation of Owners of REMIC Regular Interests" in the Prospectus.
The prepayment assumption that will be used in determining the rate of accrual
of original issue discount, market discount and premium, if any, for federal
income tax purposes will be a rate equal to [ ]% [ ]. No representation is
made that the Mortgage Loans will prepay at these rates or at any other rates.
Original issue discount must be included in income as it accrues on a constant
yield method, regardless or whether a holder receives concurrently the cash
attributable to original issue discount.
[Residual Certificates
Special tax considerations apply to an investment in Residual
Certificates. In certain circumstances, the method of taxation of Residual
Certificates can produce a significantly less favorable after-tax return for
beneficial owners of Residual Certificates than would be the case if (1)
Residual Certificates were taxable as debt instruments or (2) no portion of
the taxable income on a Residual Certificate in each period were treated as
"excess inclusion" income. See "Material Federal Income Tax Considerations --
REMICs -- Taxation of Owners of Residual Securities" in the Prospectus.
Residual Certificates may not be transferred, sold, pledged or otherwise
assigned unless, prior to the transfer, the proposed transferee delivers to
the Trustee an affidavit certifying that the transferee is not a Disqualified
Organization and is not purchasing a Residual Certificate on behalf of a
Disqualified Organization and certifying as to any matters as may be necessary
to verify that no significant purpose of the transfer is to impede the
assessment or collection of tax, including the ability of the transferee to
pay applicable taxes. In addition, Residual Certificates may not be held by a
nominee. Each proposed transferee must also sign a transferee letter which, in
the case of a transfer to or from a Nonresident, generally would require
furnishing evidence that the transfer would be respected for federal income
tax purposes.]
For further information regarding the federal income tax consequences of
investing in the Offered Certificates, see "Material Federal Income Tax
Considerations" in the Prospectus.
Legal Investment Considerations
[The Offered Certificates will [not] constitute "mortgage related
securities" under the Secondary Mortgage Market Enhancement Act of 1984.
Accordingly, many institutions with legal authority to invest in "mortgage
related securities" may [not] be legally authorized to invest in the Offered
Certificates.]
Institutions whose investment activities are subject to review by certain
regulatory authorities may be or may become subject to restrictions, which may
be retroactively imposed by the regulatory authorities, on the investment by
those institutions in certain mortgage related securities. In addition,
several states have adopted or may adopt regulations that prohibit certain
state-chartered institutions from purchasing or holding similar types of
securities.
Accordingly, investors should consult their own legal advisors to
determine whether and to what extent the Offered Certificates may be purchased
by them. See "Legal Investment Considerations" in the Prospectus.
Use of Proceeds
The net proceeds from the sale of the Offered Certificates will be
applied by the Depositor, or an affiliate thereof, toward the purchase of the
Mortgage Loans. The Mortgage Loans will be acquired by the Depositor from the
Seller in a privately negotiated transaction.
Underwriting
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting
agreement and in a terms agreement (collectively, the "Underwriting
Agreement") between the Depositor and the Underwriter, the Depositor has
agreed to sell to the Underwriter, and the Underwriter has agreed to purchase
from the Depositor, all of the Offered Certificates.
The distribution of the Offered Certificates by the Underwriter will be
effected in each case from time to time in one or more negotiated
transactions, or otherwise, at varying prices to be determined, in each case,
at the time of sale. The Underwriter may effect the transactions by selling
the Certificates to or through dealers, and the dealers may receive from the
Underwriter, for whom they act as agent, compensation in the form of
underwriting discounts, concessions or commissions. The Underwriter and any
dealers that participate with the Underwriter in the distribution of the
Certificates may be deemed to be an underwriter, and any discounts,
commissions or concessions received by them, and any profit on the resale of
the Certificates purchased by them, may be deemed to be underwriting discounts
and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). The
Underwriting Agreement provides that the Depositor will indemnify the
Underwriter against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the
Act.
Lehman Brothers Inc. has entered into an agreement with the Depositor to
purchase the Class [ ] Certificates simultaneously with the purchase of the
Offered Certificates, subject to certain conditions.
Lehman Brothers Inc. is an affiliate of the Depositor.
ERISA Considerations
A fiduciary of any employee benefit plan or other retirement arrangement
subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA"), or the Code should carefully review with its legal advisors whether
the purchase or holding of Certificates could give rise to a transaction
prohibited or not otherwise permissible under ERISA or the Code. See "ERISA
Considerations" in the accompanying Prospectus.
Legal Matters
Certain legal matters with respect to the Certificates will be passed
upon for the Depositor and for the Underwriter by Brown & Wood LLP,
Washington, D.C.
Ratings
It is a condition to the issuance of the Class [ ] Certificates that they
be rated "[ ]" by [ ]. It is a condition to the issuance of the Class
[ ] Certificates that they be rated "[ ]," "[ ]" and "[ ],"
respectively, by [ ]. The rating of "AAA" is the highest rating that S&P and
Fitch assign to securities. A securities rating is not a recommendation to
buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at
any time by the assigning rating organization.
A securities rating addresses the likelihood of the receipt by Offered
Certificateholders of distributions in the amount of scheduled payments on the
Mortgage Loans. The rating takes into consideration the characteristics of the
Mortgage Loans and the structural, legal and tax aspects associated with the
Offered Certificates. The ratings assigned to the Offered Certificates do not
represent any assessment of the likelihood or rate of principal prepayments.
The ratings do not address the possibility that the Offered Certificateholders
might suffer a lower than anticipated yield due to prepayments or may fail to
recoup their initial investments.
The security ratings assigned to the Offered Certificates should be
evaluated independently from similar ratings on other types of securities. A
security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and
may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by either Rating Agency.
The Depositor has not requested a rating of the Offered Certificates by
any rating agency other than the Rating Agencies; there can be no assurance,
however, as to whether any other rating agency will rate the Offered
Certificates or, if it does, what rating would be assigned by the other rating
agency. The rating assigned by the other rating agency to the Offered
Certificates could be lower than the ratings assigned by the Rating Agencies.
<PAGE>
Glossary
Defined terms Page
------------- ----
<PAGE>
Global Clearance, Settlement and Tax Documentation Procedures
Except in certain limited circumstances, the globally offered Structured
Asset Securities Corporation [ ] Asset Backed Certificates
(the "Global Securities") will be available only in book-entry form. Investors
in the Global Securities may hold the Global Securities through any of DTC,
Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme (formerly Cedelbank) (referred to as
"Clearstream" herein) or Euroclear. The Global Securities will be tradable as
home market instruments in both the European and U.S. domestic markets.
Initial settlement and all secondary trades will settle in same-day funds.
Secondary market trading between investors holding Global Securities
through Clearstream and Euroclear will be conducted in the ordinary way in
accordance with their normal rules and operating procedures and in accordance
with conventional eurobond practice (i.e., seven calendar day settlement).
Secondary market trading between investors holding Global Securities
through DTC will be conducted according to the rules and procedures applicable
to U.S. corporate debt obligations and prior mortgage loan asset backed
certificates issues.
Secondary cross-market trading between Clearstream or Euroclear and DTC
Participants holding Certificates will be effected on a
delivery-against-payment basis through the respective Depositaries of
Clearstream and Euroclear and as DTC Participants.
Non-U.S. holders (as described below) of Global Securities will be
subject to U.S. withholding taxes unless those holders meet certain
requirements and deliver appropriate U.S. tax documents to the securities
clearing organizations or their participants.
Initial Settlement
All Global Securities will be held in book-entry form by DTC in the name
of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC. Investors' interests in the Global
Securities will be represented through financial institutions acting on their
behalf as direct and indirect Participants in DTC. As a result, Clearstream
and Euroclear will hold positions on behalf of their participants through
their respective Depositaries, which in turn will hold the positions in
accounts as DTC Participants.
Investors electing to hold their Global Securities through DTC will
follow the settlement practices applicable to prior mortgage loan asset backed
certificates issues. Investor securities custody accounts will be credited
with their holdings against payment in same-day funds on the settlement date.
Investors electing to hold their Global Securities through Clearstream or
Euroclear accounts will follow the settlement procedures applicable to
conventional eurobonds, except that there will be no temporary global security
and no "lock-up" or restricted period. Global Securities will be credited to
the securities custody accounts on the settlement date against payment in
same-day funds.
Secondary Market Trading
Since the purchaser determines the place of delivery, it is important to
establish at the time of the trade where both the purchaser's and seller's
accounts are located to ensure that settlement can be made on the desired
value date.
Trading between DTC Participants. Secondary market trading between DTC
Participants will be settled using the procedures applicable to prior mortgage
loan asset backed certificates issues in same-day funds.
Trading between Clearstream and/or Euroclear Participants. Secondary
market trading between Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants will
be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in
same-day funds.
Trading between DTC Seller and Clearstream or Euroclear Purchaser. When
Global Securities are to be transferred from the account of a DTC Participant
to the account of a Clearstream Participant or a Euroclear Participant, the
purchaser will send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear through a
Clearstream Participant or Euroclear Participant at least one business day
prior to settlement. Clearstream or Euroclear will instruct the respective
Depositary, as the case may be, to receive the Global Securities against
payment. Payment will include interest accrued on the Global Securities from
and including the last interest payment date to and excluding the settlement
date, on the basis of either the actual number of days in the accrual period
and a year assumed to consist of 360 days or a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months as applicable to the related class of Global Securities. For
transactions settling on the 31st of the month, payment will include interest
accrued to and excluding the first day of the following month. Payment will
then be made by the respective Depositary of the DTC Participant's account
against delivery of the Global Securities. After settlement has been
completed, the Global Securities will be credited to the respective clearing
system and by the clearing system, in accordance with its usual procedures, to
the Clearstream Participant's or Euroclear Participant's account. The
securities credit will appear the next day (European time) and the cash debt
will be back-valued to, and the interest on the Global Securities will accrue
from, the value date (that would be the preceding day when settlement occurred
in New York). If settlement is not completed on the intended value date (i.e.,
the trade fails), the Clearstream or Euroclear cash debt will be valued
instead as of the actual settlement date.
Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants will need to make
available to the respective clearing systems the funds necessary to process
same-day funds settlement. The most direct means of doing so is to preposition
funds for settlement, either from cash on hand or existing lines of credit, as
they would for any settlement occurring within Clearstream or Euroclear. Under
this approach, they may take on credit exposure to Clearstream or Euroclear
until the Global Securities are credited to their accounts one day later.
As an alternative, if Clearstream or Euroclear has extended a line of
credit to them, Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants can elect
not to preposition funds and allow that credit line to be drawn upon the
finance settlement. Under this procedure, Clearstream Participants or
Euroclear Participants purchasing Global Securities would incur overdraft
charges for one day, assuming they cleared the overdraft when the Global
Securities were credited to their accounts. However, interest on the Global
Securities would accrue from the value date. Therefore, in many cases the
investment income on the Global Securities earned during that one-day period
may substantially reduce or offset the amount of overdraft charges, although
this result will depend on each Clearstream Participant's or Euroclear
Participant's particular cost of funds.
Since the settlement is taking place during New York business hours, DTC
Participants can employ their usual procedures for sending Global Securities
to the respective European Depositary for the benefit of Clearstream
Participants or Euroclear Participants. The sale proceeds will be available to
the DTC seller on the settlement date. Thus, to the DTC Participants a
cross-market transaction will settle no differently than a trade between two
DTC Participants.
Trading between Clearstream or Euroclear Seller and DTC Purchaser. Due to
time zone differences in their favor, Clearstream Participants and Euroclear
Participants may employ their customary procedures for transactions in which
Global Securities are to be transferred by the respective clearing system,
through the respective Depositary, to a DTC Participant. The seller will send
instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear through a Clearstream Participant or
Euroclear Participant at least one business day prior to settlement. In these
cases Clearstream or Euroclear will instruct the respective Depositary, as
appropriate, to deliver the Global Securities to the DTC Participant's account
against payment. Payment will include interest accrued on the Global
Securities from and including the last interest payment to and excluding the
settlement date on the basis of either the actual number of days in the
accrual period and a year assumed to consist of 360 days or a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months as applicable to the related class of Global Securities.
For transactions settling on the 31st of the month, payment will include
interest accrued to and excluding the first day of the following month. The
payment will then be reflected in the account of the Clearstream Participant
or Euroclear Participant the following day, and receipt of the cash proceeds
in the Clearstream Participant's or Euroclear Participant's account would be
back-valued to the value date (which would be the preceding day, when
settlement occurred in New York). Should the Clearstream Participant or
Euroclear Participant have a line of credit with its respective clearing
system and elect to be in debt in anticipation of receipt of the sale proceeds
in its account, the back-valuation will extinguish any overdraft incurred over
that one day period. If settlement is not completed on the intended value date
(that is, the trade fails), receipt of the cash proceeds in the Clearstream
Participant's or Euroclear Participant's account would instead be valued as of
the actual settlement date.
Finally, day traders that use Clearstream or Euroclear and that purchase
Global Securities from DTC Participants for delivery to Clearstream
Participants or Euroclear Participants should note that these trades would
automatically fail on the sale side unless affirmative action were taken. At
least three techniques should be readily available to eliminate this potential
problem:
o borrowing through Clearstream or Euroclear for one day (until the
purchase side of the day trade is reflected in their Clearstream or
Euroclear accounts) in accordance with the clearing system's
customary procedures;
o borrowing the Global Securities in the U.S. from a DTC Participant
no later than one day prior to the settlement, which would give the
Global Securities sufficient time to be reflected in their
Clearstream or Euroclear account in order to settle the sale side of
the trade; or
o staggering the value dates for the buy and sell sides of the trade
so that the value date for the purchase from the DTC Participant is
at least one day prior to the value date for the sale to the
Clearstream or Euroclear Participant.
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Documentation Requirements
A beneficial owner of Global Securities holding securities through
Clearstream or Euroclear (or through DTC if the holder has an address outside
the U.S.) will be subject to the 30% U.S. withholding tax that generally
applies to payments of interest (including original issue discount) on
registered debt issued by U.S. Persons, unless (1) each clearing system, bank
or other financial institution that holds customers' securities in the
ordinary course of its trade or business in the chain of intermediaries
between the beneficial owner and the U.S. entity required to withhold tax
complies with applicable certification requirements and (2) the beneficial
owner takes one of the following steps to obtain an exemption or reduced tax
rate:
Exemption for non-U.S. Persons (Form W-8). Beneficial owners of Global
Securities that are non-U.S. Persons can obtain a complete exemption from the
withholding tax by filing a signed Form W-8 (Certificate of Foreign Status).
If the information shown on Form W-8 changes, a new Form W-8 must be filed
within 30 days of the change.
Exemption for non-U.S. Persons with effectively connected income (Form
4224). A non-U.S. Person, including a non-U.S. corporation or bank with a U.S.
branch, for which the interest income is effectively connected with its
conduct of a trade or business in the United States, can obtain an exemption
from the withholding tax by filing Form 4224 (Exemption from Withholding of
Tax on Income Effectively Connected with the Conduct of a Trade or Business in
the United States).
Exemption Or Reduced Rate For Non-U.S. Persons Resident In Treaty
Countries (Form 1001). Non-U.S. Persons that are Beneficial Owners residing in
a country that has a tax treaty with the United States can obtain an exemption
or reduced tax rate (depending on the treaty terms) by filing Form 1001
(Ownership, Exemption or Reduced Rate Certificate). If the treaty provides
only for a reduced rate, withholding tax will be imposed at that rate unless
the filer alternatively files Form W-8. Form 1001 may be filed by the
Certificate Owner or his agent.
Exemption for U.S. Persons (Form W-9). U.S. Persons can obtain a complete
exemption from the withholding tax by filing Form W-9 (Payer's Request for
Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification).
U.S. Federal Income Tax Reporting Procedure. The Certificate Owner of a
Global Security or, in the case of a Form 1001 or a Form 4224 filer, his
agent, files by submitting the appropriate form to the person through whom it
holds (the clearing agency, in the case of persons holding directly on the
books of the clearing agency). Form W-8 and Form 1001 are effective for three
calendar years and Form 4224 is effective for one calendar year.
The term "U.S. Person" means (1) a citizen or resident of the United
States, (2) a corporation or partnership organized in or under the laws of the
United States or any state or the District of Columbia (other than a
partnership that is not treated as a United States person under any applicable
Treasury regulations), (3) an estate the income of which is includible in
gross income for United States tax purposes, regardless of its source, or (4)
a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary
supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States
persons have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, to the extent provided in regulations,
certain trusts in existence on August 20, 1996 and treated as United States
persons prior to that date that elect to continue to be so treated also will
be considered U.S. Persons. This summary does not deal with all aspects of
U.S. Federal income tax withholding that may be relevant to foreign holders of
the Global Securities. Investors are advised to consult their own tax advisors
for specific tax advice concerning their holding and disposing of the Global
Securities.
<PAGE>
$[ ]
(Approximate)
Structured Asset
Securities Corporation
Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates
Series [ ]
[ ]
[Servicer/Master Servicer]
---------------
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
[ ]
---------------
LEHMAN BROTHERS
<PAGE>
The information in this prospectus supplement is not complete and may be
changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This
prospectus supplement is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not
soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or
sale is not permitted.
second supp.
Subject to Completion, May [ ], 2000
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated [ ])
$[ ] (Approximate)
STRUCTURED ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION
[ ] Trust [ ]
Asset-Backed Notes
[ ],
[Servicer/Master Servicer]
Consider carefully the risk factors beginning on page S-[ ] of this prospectus
supplement.
For a list of capitalized terms used in this prospectus supplement, see the
Glossary beginning on page S-[ ] of this prospectus supplement.
The notes will represent obligations of the trust only and will not represent
interests in or obligations of any other entity.
This prospectus supplement may be used to offer and sell the notes only if
accompanied by the prospectus.
The trust will issue the following notes:
Class
Principal Interest Price to Underwriting Proceeds to CUSIP
Class Amount(1) Rate (2) Public Discount Depositor Number
- ----- --------- -------- -------- ------------ ----------- ------
[ ] $[ ] [ ]% $[ [ ] ] $[ ]
_______________
(1) These amounts are approximate, as described in this prospectus supplement.
(2) The interest rate for each class of notes will be [to be described as
applicable].
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relate
only to the offering of the notes listed in the chart above, and not to the
certificate representing ownership of the residual interest in the trust,
which will be issued by the trust as described in this prospectus supplement.
[Describe assets of trust fund.]
[Describe underwriting arrangements.]
The closing date for the offering of the notes is expected to be on
or about [ ].
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved the notes or determined that
this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
LEHMAN BROTHERS
The date of this prospectus supplement is [ ]
<PAGE>
Important Notice about Information Presented in this
Prospectus Supplement and the Accompanying Prospectus
We provide information to you about the notes offered by this
prospectus supplement in two separate documents that progressively provide
more detail: (1) the accompanying prospectus, which provides general
information, some of which may not apply to your notes, and (2) this
prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of your notes.
If information varies between this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus
supplement.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus,
including the information incorporated by reference to other public filings
made by the depositor. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any
other information.
We are not offering the notes in any state where the offer is not
permitted. We do not claim that the information in this prospectus supplement
and the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the
dates stated on their respective covers.
____________________
Dealers will deliver a prospectus supplement and prospectus when
acting as underwriters of the notes and with respect to their unsold
allotments or subscriptions. In addition, all dealers selling the notes will
be required to deliver a prospectus supplement and prospectus for ninety days
following the date of this prospectus supplement.
____________________
We include cross references in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus to captions in these materials where you can find
further related discussions. The following table of contents and the table of
contents included in the accompanying prospectus provide the pages on which
these captions are located.
<PAGE>
Table of Contents
Prospectus Supplement
Page
Prospectus............................................................... S-4
Summary of Terms......................................................... S-6
Risk Factors............................................................. S-11
Limited Obligations................................................... S-11
Potential Inadequacy of Credit Enhancement............................ S-11
Unpredictability and Effect of Prepayments............................ S-13
Geographic Concentration of Mortgage Loans........................... S-13
Greater Risk Involving Certain Property Types......................... S-14
Less Reliable Prepayment Loss and Foreclosure Information For
Newly Originated Mortgage Loans....................................... S-15
Limited Ability to Resell Notes....................................... S-15
Insolvency of Seller Could Cause Losses............................... S-15
Description of the Trust................................................. S-16
General............................................................... S-16
The Owner Trustee..................................................... S-16
The Residual Certificate.............................................. S-16
Description of the Notes................................................. S-16
General............................................................... S-16
Book-Entry Registration............................................... S-17
Priority of Payments.................................................. S-19
Payments of Interest.................................................. S-19
Payments of Principal................................................. S-20
Available Payment Amount.............................................. S-21
Credit Enhancement.................................................... S-23
[The Residual Certificate............................................. S-23
Maturity Date......................................................... S-23
Optional Redemption................................................... S-23
Description of the Mortgage Pool......................................... S-24
General............................................................... S-24
Additional Information................................................... S-28
[The Servicer]........................................................... S-28
General............................................................... S-28
Delinquency Experience................................................ S-28
Servicing of the Mortgage Loans.......................................... S-30
[The Subservicer [if applicable]...................................... S-30
[Insurance Coverage................................................... S-31
Servicing Compensation and Payment of Expenses........................ S-31
Prepayment Interest Shortfalls........................................ S-31
Advances.............................................................. S-31
Collection of Taxes, Assessments and Similar Items.................... S-32
Certain Rights Related to Foreclosure................................. S-32
The Trust Agreement, Sale and Collection Agreement, Indenture
and Administration Agreement.......................................... S-33
General............................................................... S-33
Certain Matters Under the Agreements.................................. S-33
The Indenture Trustee................................................. S-36
Administration........................................................ S-36
Amendment............................................................. S-37
Voting Rights......................................................... S-38
Yield, Prepayment and Weighted Average Life.............................. S-38
General............................................................... S-38
[Subordination of the Class [ ] Notes............................. S-40
Weighted Average Life................................................. S-40
Material Federal Income Tax Considerations............................... S-41
Legal Investment Considerations.......................................... S-42
Use of Proceeds.......................................................... S-42
Underwriting............................................................. S-42
ERISA Considerations..................................................... S-43
Legal Matters............................................................ S-43
Ratings.................................................................. S-43
Glossary................................................................. S-44
Annex I.................................................................. S-45
<PAGE>
Table of Contents
Prospectus
Page
Description of the Securities............................................. 2
General................................................................ 2
Distributions on the Securities........................................ 3
Optional Termination................................................... 5
Optional Purchase of Securities........................................ 6
Other Purchases........................................................ 6
Book-Entry Registration................................................ 7
Yield, Prepayment and Maturity Considerations............................. 12
Payment Delays......................................................... 12
Principal Prepayments.................................................. 12
Timing of Reduction of Principal Amount................................ 13
Interest or Principal Weighted Securities.............................. 13
Final Scheduled Distribution Date...................................... 13
Prepayments and Weighted Average Life.................................. 14
Other Factors Affecting Weighted Average Life.......................... 15
The Trust Funds........................................................... 17
General................................................................ 17
Ginnie Mae Certificates................................................ 19
Fannie Mae Certificates................................................ 21
Freddie Mac Certificates............................................... 24
Private Mortgage-Backed Securities..................................... 27
The Mortgage Loans..................................................... 30
The Manufactured Home Loans............................................ 36
Pre-Funding Arrangements............................................... 38
Collection Account and Distribution Account............................ 39
Other Funds or Accounts................................................ 39
Loan Underwriting Procedures and Standards................................ 40
Underwriting Standards................................................. 40
Loss Experience........................................................ 42
Representations and Warranties......................................... 43
Substitution of Primary Assets......................................... 45
Servicing of Loans........................................................ 45
General................................................................ 45
Collection Procedures; Escrow Accounts................................. 46
Deposits to and Withdrawals from the Collection Account................ 47
Servicing Accounts..................................................... 49
Buy-Down Loans, GPM Loans and Other Subsidized Loans................... 49
Advances and Limitations Thereon....................................... 51
Maintenance of Insurance Policies and Other Servicing Procedures....... 52
Presentation of Claims; Realization Upon Defaulted Loans............... 55
Enforcement of Due-On-Sale Clauses..................................... 56
Certain Rights Related to Foreclosure.................................. 57
Servicing Compensation and Payment of Expenses......................... 57
Evidence as to Compliance.............................................. 58
Certain Matters Regarding the Master Servicer.......................... 59
Credit Support............................................................ 60
General................................................................ 60
Subordinate Securities; Subordination Reserve Fund..................... 61
Cross-Support Features................................................. 62
Insurance.............................................................. 63
Letter of Credit....................................................... 63
Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy.................................... 64
Reserve Funds.......................................................... 64
Description of Mortgage and Other Insurance............................... 65
Mortgage Insurance on the Loans........................................ 65
Hazard Insurance on the Loans.......................................... 73
Bankruptcy Bond........................................................ 75
Repurchase Bond........................................................ 75
The Agreements............................................................ 75
Issuance of Securities................................................. 76
Assignment of Primary Assets........................................... 76
Repurchase and Substitution of Non-Conforming Loans.................... 79
Reports to Securityholders............................................. 81
Investment of Funds.................................................... 82
Event of Default; Rights Upon Event of Default......................... 83
The Trustee............................................................ 86
Duties of the Trustee.................................................. 87
Resignation of Trustee................................................. 87
Distribution Account................................................... 88
Expense Reserve Fund................................................... 88
Amendment of Agreement................................................. 88
Voting Rights.......................................................... 89
REMIC or FASIT Administrator........................................... 89
Administration Agreement............................................... 89
Termination............................................................ 90
Legal Aspects of Loans.................................................... 91
Mortgages.............................................................. 91
Junior Mortgages; Rights of Senior Mortgages........................... 92
Cooperative Loans...................................................... 94
Foreclosure on Mortgages............................................... 96
Realizing Upon Cooperative Loan Security............................... 97
Rights of Redemption................................................... 99
Anti-Deficiency Legislation and Other Limitations on Lenders........... 99
Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940........................ 102
Environmental Risks.................................................... 103
Due-on-Sale Clauses in Mortgage Loans.................................. 104
Enforceability of Prepayment and Late Payment Fees..................... 104
Equitable Limitations on Remedies...................................... 104
Applicability of Usury Laws............................................ 105
Adjustable Interest Rate Loans......................................... 105
Manufactured Home Loans................................................ 106
Material Federal Income Tax Considerations................................ 110
General................................................................ 110
Taxable Mortgage Pools................................................. 111
REMICs................................................................. 111
FASIT.................................................................. 138
Grantor Trust Funds.................................................... 142
Partnership Trust Funds & Debt Securities.............................. 151
State Tax Considerations...................................................157
ERISA Considerations.......................................................157
Legal Investment Considerations............................................164
Legal Matters..............................................................165
The Depositor..............................................................165
Use of Proceeds............................................................166
Plan of Distribution.......................................................166
Additional Information.....................................................167
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............................168
Reports to Securityholders.................................................168
Index of Defined Terms.....................................................I-1
<PAGE>
Summary of Terms
o This summary highlights selected information from this prospectus
supplement and does not contain all of the information that you need to
consider in making your investment decision. To understand all of the
terms of the offering of the notes, you should carefully read this
entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
o While this summary contains an overview of certain calculations, cash
flow priorities and other information to aid your understanding, you
should read carefully the full description of these calculations, cash
flow priorities and other information in this prospectus supplement and
the accompanying prospectus before making any investment decision.
o [Whenever we refer to a percentage of some or all of the mortgage loans
in the trust [or in any pool], that percentage has been calculated on
the basis of the total scheduled principal balance of those mortgage
loans as of [ ], unless we specify otherwise. We explain in this
prospectus supplement under "Description of the Notes - Payments of
Principal" how the scheduled principal balance of a mortgage loan is
determined. Whenever we refer in this Summary of Terms or in the Risk
Factors section to the total principal balance of any mortgage loans, we
mean the total of their scheduled principal balances determined by that
method, unless we specify otherwise.]
<PAGE>
The Offered Notes
Structured Asset Securities Corporation [ ] Trust [ ] is offering the
Class [ ] and Class [ ] Asset-Backed Notes as part of series [ ]. Each class
of notes will be issued in book-entry form.
See "Description of the Notes -- Book-Entry Registration" in this
prospectus supplement for a discussion of the minimum denominations and the
incremental denominations of the notes.
The notes will represent obligations of the trust and will be secured
by the assets of the trust, which consist primarily of [describe assets of the
trust].
The notes will have an approximate aggregate initial principal amount
of $[ ]. Any difference between the total principal amount of the notes on the
date they are issued and the approximate total principal amount of the notes
on the date of this prospectus supplement will not exceed 5%.
Depositor
Structured Asset Securities Corporation is the depositor. The
depositor's principal offices are located at 200 Vesey Street, New York, New
York 10285, telephone (212) 526-5594.
Seller
Lehman Capital, A Division of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. will be
the seller of the mortgage loans. The seller's principal offices are located
at 200 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10285, telephone (212) 526-3305.
Servicing
[ ] will service the mortgage loans in the trust pursuant to a
servicing agreement among the seller, the servicer and [the master servicer].
The servicer will receive a monthly fee with respect to each mortgage loan
that it services as described in "The Servicer" and "Servicing of the Mortgage
Loans" in this prospectus supplement.
[The servicer [or the master servicer] is required to make advances
in respect of scheduled payments on the mortgage loans, net of its servicing
fee, in certain circumstances described herein. If the servicer [or the master
servicer] does not make a required advance, the indenture trustee will be
obligated to do so to the extent required by the sale and collection
agreement.]
Payments on the Notes
Principal and interest on each class of the notes will be payable on
the [25th]day of each month, beginning in [ ]. However, if the [25th]
day is not a business day, payments will be made on the next business day.
Interest Payments
Interest will accrue on each class of the notes at the annual rate
described in this prospectus supplement.
[You will receive from each pool of mortgage loans only the payments
of interest that the component parts of your class of notes relating to that
mortgage pool are entitled to receive. As described in this prospectus
supplement, you may receive less than you are entitled to from any particular
pool of mortgage loans if those mortgage loans do not generate enough interest
in any particular month to pay interest due.]
See "Description of the Notes -- Payments of Interest" in this
prospectus supplement.
Principal Payments
The amount of principal payable on each class of notes will be
determined by (1) funds actually received on the mortgage loans that are
available to make payments on each class of notes, (2) the amount of interest
received on the mortgage loans that is used to pay principal on each class of
notes, calculated as described in this prospectus supplement, (3) [the amount
of principal received on the mortgage loans that is released to the residual
certificate, calculated as described in this prospectus supplement,] and (4)
[ ].
Funds actually received on the mortgage loans may consist of
expected, scheduled payments, and unexpected payments resulting from
prepayments or defaults by borrowers, liquidation of defaulted mortgage loans,
or repurchases of mortgage loans under the circumstances described in this
prospectus supplement.
See "Description of the Notes -- Payments of Principal" in this
prospectus supplement.
The last possible day on which the principal of the notes could become
payable in full is [ ] and is referred to as the maturity date. The
notes could be paid in full before the maturity date.
See "Yield, Prepayment and Weighted Average Life - General" in this
prospectus supplement for a discussion of the factors that could affect when
the principal of each class of notes will be paid in full.
Limited Recourse
The only source of cash available to make interest and principal
payments on the notes will be the assets of the trust. The trust will have no
other source of cash and no other entity will be required or expected to make
any payments on the notes.
Enhancement of Likelihood of Payment on the Notes
The payment structure includes [forms of credit enhancement to be
described as applicable]. [The notes will not be insured by any financial
guaranty insurance policy.]
See "Risk Factors -- Potential Inadequacy of Credit Enhancement" and
"Description of the Notes -- Credit Enhancement" in this prospectus supplement
for a detailed description of the forms of credit enhancement available to the
notes.
[Subordination of Payments
Payments of interest and principal will each be made to holders of
notes before payments are made to the holder of the residual certificate. In
addition, notes with an "A" in their class designation will have a payment
priority as a group over other notes. Class [ ] notes will have a payment
priority over class [ ] notes, and class [ ] notes will have a payment
priority over class [ ] notes.
These payment priorities are intended to increase the likelihood that
the holders of class [ ] notes and, to a lesser extent, the holders of class [
] notes, will receive regular payments of interest and principal.
See "Description of the Notes -- Credit Enhancement" in this
prospectus supplement.]
[Overcollateralization
On the closing date, the total principal amount of the notes is
expected to exceed the total principal balance of the mortgage loans by
approximately $[ ] or approximately [ ]%. This condition is referred to as
"undercollateralization." In the same way, the total principal amount of the
notes' component parts that relate to each pool of mortgage loans is expected
to exceed the total principal balance of the mortgage loans in each pool in
approximately the same proportion.
Any interest received on the mortgage loans in each pool in excess of
the amount needed to pay interest on the notes' component parts that relate to
that pool and certain expenses and fees will be used to reduce the total
principal balance of those component parts in order to eliminate the initial
undercollateralization.
If the initial undercollateralization is eliminated, and we cannot
assure you that it will be, the indenture trustee will continue to apply
excess interest to reduce the total principal balance of the notes to a level
set by the rating agencies until the total principal balance of the mortgage
loans exceeds the total outstanding principal amount of the notes, and the
total principal balance of the mortgage loans in each pool exceeds the total
principal amount of the notes' component parts that relate to that pool, by
the amount required by the rating agencies. This condition is referred to as
"overcollateralization." We cannot assure you that sufficient interest will be
generated by the mortgage loans to create overcollateralization, or to
maintain it after it has been created.
See "Risk Factors -- Potential Inadequacy of Credit Enhancement" and
"Description of the Notes -- Credit Enhancement" in this prospectus supplement.]
The Mortgage Loans
On the closing date, which is expected to be on or about [ ],
the assets of the trust will consist of [__ pools of] mortgage loans with a
total principal balance of approximately $[ ]. The mortgage loans will be
secured by [mortgages, deeds of trust or other security instruments, all of
which are referred to in this prospectus supplement as mortgages].
[The mortgage loans held by the trust will not be insured or guaranteed
by any government agency.]
See "Description of the Mortgage Pool" in this prospectus supplement
and "The Trust Funds -- The Mortgage Loans" in the prospectus for a general
description of the mortgage loans.
[The Pre-Funding Arrangement
On the closing date, approximately $[ ] will be deposited by
[ ] in a pre-funding account maintained by [ ]. It is intended
that additional mortgage loans will be sold to the trust by the depositor from
time to time, from [ ] until [ ], paid for with the funds on
deposit in the pre-funding account.
[Description of pre-funding account and additional mortgage loans if
applicable.]]
Optional Redemption
[ ] will have the option to purchase all the mortgage loans
and the other assets of the trust on any payment date when the total principal
balance of the mortgage loans declines to [ ]%, or less, of their initial
total principal balance. If [ ] does not exercise that option, [ ]
may purchase the mortgage loans.
[If the mortgage loans in any pool and the other assets of the pool
are purchased, the related class[es] of notes will be redeemed, and
noteholders will be paid accrued interest (on the notes' component parts that
relate to that pool) and principal equal to the outstanding principal balance
of those component parts.]
See "Description of the Notes -- Optional Redemption" in this
prospectus supplement for a description of the purchase price to be paid for
the mortgage loans.
Tax Status
[Tax status to be described as applicable.]
See "Material Federal Income Tax Considerations" in this prospectus
supplement and in the prospectus for additional information concerning the
application of federal income tax laws to the notes.
ERISA Considerations
[To be provided as applicable.]
ERISA generally applies to investments made by employee benefit plans
and transactions involving the assets of these plans. Because of the
complexity of regulations that govern these plans, you should consult with
your advisor regarding the consequences under ERISA of acquiring, holding and
disposing of any notes.
See "ERISA Considerations" in this prospectus supplement and in the
prospectus for a more complete discussion of these issues.
Legal Investment Considerations
[The notes will [not] constitute "mortgage related securities" for
purposes of the Secondary Mortgage Market Enhancement Act of 1984.]
Other legal restrictions apply to the ability of some types of
investors to purchase the notes. Prospective investors should consider these
restrictions.
See "Legal Investment Considerations" in this prospectus supplement
and in the prospectus.
Ratings of the Notes
Each class of notes will initially have the following ratings from
[ ]:
Class Rating
----- ------
A rating reflects the rating agency's assessment of the likelihood that timely
payments will be made on the notes. Ratings do not address the likelihood or
expected rate of prepayments, or the possibility that investors in the notes
might suffer a lower than anticipated yield due to prepayments.
See "Ratings" in this prospectus supplement.
<PAGE>
Risk Factors
The following information, which you should carefully consider,
identifies certain significant sources of risk associated with an investment
in the notes.
Limited Obligations The assets of the trust, including any form
of credit enhancement, are the sole source
of payments on the notes. The notes are not
the obligations of any other entity. None
of the seller, the depositor, the
underwriter, the servicer or any of their
affiliates will have any obligation to
replace or supplement the credit
enhancement, or take any other action to
maintain the rating of the notes. If credit
enhancement is not available, holders of
the notes may suffer losses on their
investment.
Potential Inadequacy of Credit [The notes are not insured by any financial
Enhancement guaranty insurance policy. The
overcollateralization and subordination
features described in the summary are
intended to enhance the likelihood that
noteholders will receive regular payments
of interest and principal.
Overcollateralization. In order to
eliminate the initial
undercollateralization and create
overcollateralization for each pool of
mortgage loans, it will be necessary that
those mortgage loans generate more interest
than is needed to pay interest on the notes
and fees and expenses of the trust. We
expect that the mortgage loans will
generate more interest than is needed to
pay those amounts, at least during certain
periods, because the weighted average of
the interest rates on the mortgage loans is
higher than the weighted average of the
interest rates on the notes. We can not
assure you, however, that enough excess
interest will be generated to eliminate the
initial undercollateralization or to reach
the overcollateralization levels required
by the rating agencies for each pool. The
following factors will affect the amount of
excess interest that the mortgage loans
will generate:
o Prepayments. Every time a mortgage
loan is prepaid, total excess
interest after the date of
prepayment will be reduced because
that mortgage loan will no longer be
outstanding and generating interest.
The effect on your notes of this
reduction will be influenced by the
number of prepaid loans and the
characteristics of the prepaid
loans. Prepayment of a
disproportionately large number of
high interest rate mortgage loans
would have a greater negative effect
on future excess interest.
o Defaults. The rate of defaults on
the mortgage loans may turn out to
be higher than expected. Defaulted
mortgage loans may be liquidated,
and liquidated mortgage loans will
no longer be outstanding and
generating interest. Defaults on a
disproportionately high number of
high interest rate mortgage loans
would have a greater negative effect
on future excess interest.
o Level of LIBOR. If LIBOR increases,
more cash will be needed to pay
interest to noteholders, so less
cash will be available as excess
interest.
See "Description of the Notes -- Credit
Enhancement" in this prospectus supplement.
Subordination. Subordination in right of
payment of the residual interest in the
trust provides a form of credit enhancement
for the notes. Similarly, subordination in
right of payment of the Class [ ] notes to
the Class [ ] notes provides a form of
credit enhancement for the Class [ ] notes.
However, if this subordination is
insufficient to absorb losses in excess of
any overcollateralization that is created,
then holders of class [ ] notes will not,
and holders of class [ ] notes may not,
recover their entire initial investment in
the notes.
See "Description of the Notes -- Credit
Enhancement" in this prospectus supplement.
[Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Guaranties. The
assets of the trust include Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac certificates. Although payments
on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac certificates
are guaranteed by those respective
agencies, these agencies' guaranties are
not backed by the full faith and credit of
the United States. Neither the United
States nor any U.S. agency is obligated to
finance or otherwise assist either Fannie
Mae or Freddie Mac in any manner.
Therefore, if the Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac certificates do not pay as expected,
you might suffer a loss on your investment
in the Notes.]
Unpredictability and Borrowers may prepay their mortgage loans in
Effect of Prepayments whole or in part at any time. A prepayment
of a mortgage loan will usually result in a
prepayment on the notes.
o If you purchase your notes at a
discount and principal is repaid
slower than you anticipate, then
your yield may be lower than you
anticipate.
o If you purchase your notes at a
premium and principal is repaid
faster than you anticipate, then
your yield may be lower than you
anticipate.
Approximately [ ]% of the mortgage loans
impose a penalty for prepayments during
periods that range from [one to five] years
after origination, which may discourage
these borrowers from prepaying their
mortgage loans during the penalty period.
The prepayment experience of the mortgage
loans may differ significantly from that of
other first lien residential mortgage
loans. The rate at which prepayments,
defaults and losses occur on the mortgage
loans will affect the average life and
yield on the notes.
See "Yield, Prepayment, and Weighted
Average Life" in this prospectus supplement
for a description of factors that may
influence the rate and timing of
prepayments on the mortgage loans.
Geographic Concentration [Approximately [ ]% of the mortgage loans
of Mortgage Loans expected to be in the trust on the closing
date are secured by properties in California.
The rate of delinquencies, defaults and
losses on the mortgage loans, and therefore
the rate of prepayments on the mortgage
loans, may be higher than if fewer of the
mortgage loans were concentrated in one
state because the following conditions in
California will have a disproportionate
impact on the mortgage loans in general:
o weak economic conditions in
California (which may or may not
affect real property values) may
affect the ability of borrowers to
repay their mortgage loans on time;
o properties in California may be more
susceptible than homes located in
other parts of the country to
certain types of uninsurable
hazards, such as earthquakes, as
well as floods, wildfires, mudslides
and other natural disasters;
o declines in the California
residential real estate market may
reduce the values of properties
located in California, which would
result in an increase in the
loan-to-value ratios; and
o Any increase in the market value of
properties located in California
would reduce the loan-to-value
ratios of the mortgage loans and
could, therefore, make alternative
sources of financing available to
the borrowers at lower interest
rates, which could result in an
increased rate of prepayment of the
mortgage loans.
Natural disasters affect regions of the
United States from time to time, which may
result in increased losses on mortgage
loans in those regions, or in insurance
payments that will be counted as
prepayments of those mortgage loans.
Recently, several southeastern states have
been affected by hurricane and storm
activity. Approximately [ ]% of the
mortgage loans expected to be in the trust
on the closing date are secured by property
in [Alabama, Florida, Georgia and
Mississippi], and some of those properties
may have been damaged or destroyed by these
storms.]
For additional information regarding the
geographic distribution of the mortgage
loans in the trust, see the applicable
table under "Description of the Mortgage
Pool" in this prospectus supplement.
Greater Risk Involving Certain Mortgage loans secured by multifamily
Property Types property, manufactured homes or cooperative
dwellings may result in higher losses as a
result of delinquency, foreclosure or
repossession than loans secured by single-
family property. If these losses are greater
than expected, and credit support is not
available to absorb the losses, investors in
the notes could suffer a loss on their
investment.
Less Reliable Prepayment Loss [Some of the mortgage loans in the trust are
and Foreclosure Information of relatively recent origin. As a result,
For Newly Originated Mortgage reliable prepayment, loss and foreclosure
Loans statistics for these mortgage loans may not
be available, and the rating agencies may
have difficulty in estimating potential
losses on the mortgage loans. If losses on
these mortgage loans are greater than
expected, investors in the notes may
experience a loss on their investment.]
Limited Ability to Resell Notes The notes will not be listed on any
securities exchange. The underwriter is not
required to assist in resales of the notes,
although it may do so. A secondary market
for the notes may not develop. If a
secondary market does develop, it might not
continue, or it might not be sufficiently
liquid to allow you to resell your notes, or
to resell them at the price you desire.
Insolvency of Seller Could Cause The seller and the depositor intend that the
Losses transfers of the mortgage loans to the
depositor and, in turn, to the trust
constitute sales rather than pledges to
secure indebtedness, for insolvency
purposes. In the event of the bankruptcy of
a prior owner of the assets, a bankruptcy
trustee or creditor of the insolvent party
could attempt to recharacterize the sale of
the mortgage loans as a borrowing secured by
a pledge of assets. If that position is
argued in or accepted by a court, investors
could suffer delays in payment, or losses,
on the notes.
[Additional risk factors to be provided as applicable.]
<PAGE>
Description of the Trust
General
Structured Asset Securities Corporation [ ] Trust [ ]
(the "Trust" or the "Issuer") will be a [statutory business trust] [common law
trust] formed under the laws of [ ] pursuant to a Deposit Trust
Agreement (the "Trust Agreement") dated as of [ ] (the "Cut-off Date")
between Structured Asset Securities Corporation, as depositor (the "Depositor")
and [ ] as owner trustee (the "Owner Trustee"), to execute the
transactions described in this Prospectus Supplement. The Trust will not engage
in any activity other than acquiring, holding and managing the Mortgage Loans
(as defined herein) and the other assets of the Trust and proceeds therefrom,
issuing the Securities (as defined herein), making payments on the Securities,
and engaging in related activities.
On or about [ ] (the "Closing Date"), the Trust will purchase
the Mortgage Loans from the Depositor pursuant to a Sale and Collection
Agreement (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the "Sale and
Collection Agreement") dated as of the Cut-off Date, among the Trust, the
Depositor, [ ], as indenture trustee (the "Indenture Trustee") and
[ ], as administrator (the "Administrator").
The Trust's principal offices are located in [ ].
The Owner Trustee
[ ] will act not in its individual capacity but solely
as the Owner Trustee under the Trust Agreement. [ ] is a [ ]
and its principal offices are located at [ ]. The Owner Trustee will
receive a fee [equal to [ ] per annum, payable monthly], as specified in
the Trust Agreement. The compensation of the Owner Trustee will be paid by
[ ].
The Residual Certificate
The equity interest in the Trust will be represented by a residual
interest certificate (the "Residual Certificate").
The holder of the Residual Certificate (the "Residual
Certificateholder," and together with the Noteholders (as defined herein), the
"Securityholders") will be entitled to receive [to be described as
applicable].
Description of the Notes
General
The Trust will issue the Class [ ] notes and the Class [ ] notes
(together, the "Notes") pursuant to an Indenture dated as of the Cut-off Date
(the "Indenture") between the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee. The Trust will
also issue the Residual Certificate pursuant to the Trust Agreement. The Notes
and the Residual Certificate are referred to herein as the "Securities." Only
the Notes are offered hereby. The Notes will be secured by the Trust Estate
(as defined below) pursuant to the Indenture.
The Trust Estate will generally consist of:
o the Mortgage Loans;
o deposits in the Note Account made in respect of the Mortgage
Loans;
o property acquired by foreclosure of the Mortgage Loans or deed
in lieu of foreclosure; and
o any applicable insurance policies and all proceeds thereof.
Each Class of Notes will be issued in the approximate initial
principal amounts specified on the cover page hereof (the "Class Principal
Amount"). The Residual Certificate will be issued without a principal amount
or interest rate, and will be entitled only to the amounts that are described
herein. The original Class Principal Amount of the Notes may be increased or
decreased by up to 5% to the extent that the Cut-off Date Balance (as defined
herein) of the Mortgage Loans is increased or decreased as described under
"Description of the Mortgage Pool" herein.
Payments on the Notes will be made on the [25th] day of each month
(or, if the [25th] day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business
Day), commencing [ ](each, a "Payment Date"), to Noteholders of
record on the immediately preceding Record Date. The "Record Date" for each
Payment Date will be the close of business on the last Business Day of the
month immediately preceding the month in which the Payment Date occurs. A
"Business Day" is generally any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on
which banks in [New York or [ ]are closed.
Payments on the Notes will be made to each registered holder entitled
thereto, either (1) by check mailed to each Noteholder's address as it appears
on the books of the Indenture Trustee, or (2) at the request, submitted to the
Indenture Trustee in writing at least five business days prior to the related
Record Date, of any holder of a Note having an initial Note Principal Amount
of not less than $2,500,000, by wire transfer (at the expense of the holder)
in immediately available funds; provided, that the final payment for a Note
will be made only upon presentation and surrender of the Note at the Corporate
Trust Office of the Indenture Trustee. See "The Trust Agreement, Sale and
Collection Agreement, Indenture and Administration Agreement -- The Indenture
Trustee" herein.
Book-Entry Registration
General
Each Class of Notes (the "Book-Entry Notes") will be issued,
maintained and transferred on the book-entry records of The Depository Trust
Company ("DTC") and its Participants in the United States [or, through
Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme (formerly Cedelbank) (referred to as
"Clearstream" herein) or the Euroclear System ("Euroclear") in Europe] and
through [its/their ] participating organizations (each, a "Participant"). The
Book-Entry Notes will be issued in fully registered, certificated form in
minimum denominations in principal amount of $[ ] and integral multiples
of $1 in excess thereof.
Each Class of Book-Entry Notes will be represented by one or more
certificates registered in the name of the nominee of DTC. The Depositor has
been informed by DTC that DTC's nominee will be Cede & Co ("Cede").
[Clearstream and Euroclear will hold omnibus positions on behalf of their
Participants through customers' securities accounts in Clearstream's and
Euroclear's names on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn
will hold positions in customers' securities accounts in the depositaries'
names on the books of DTC.] [See "Global Clearance, Settlement and Tax
Documentation Procedures" attached as Annex I hereto.]
No person acquiring an interest in a Book-Entry Note (each, a
"Beneficial Owner") will be entitled to receive a certificate representing its
interest (a "Definitive Note"), except as set forth below under "Definitive
Notes" and in the prospectus under "Description of the Securities --Book-Entry
Registration."
Unless and until Definitive Notes are issued for the Book-Entry
Notes:
o the only "Noteholder" of the Notes will be Cede & Co., as
nominee of DTC, and Beneficial owners will not be Noteholders as
that term is used in the Indenture;
o Beneficial owners of the Notes offered hereby will receive all
distributions of principal of, and interest on, the Notes from
the Indenture Trustee through DTC [, Clearstream or Euroclear,
as applicable,] and [its/their] Participants.
o while the Notes are outstanding, under the rules, regulations
and procedures creating and affecting DTC [Clearstream and
Euroclear] and [its/their] operations, DTC [Clearstream and
Euroclear] [is/are] required to make book-entry transfers among
Participants on whose behalf it acts with respect to the Notes
and is required to receive and transmit distributions of
principal of, and interest on, the Notes. Participants and
indirect participants with whom Beneficial Owners have accounts
with respect to Notes are similarly required to make book-entry
transfers and receive and transmit distributions on behalf of
their respective Beneficial Owners. Accordingly, although
Beneficial Owners will not possess certificates, DTC
[Clearstream and Euroclear] [has/have] in place a mechanism by
which Beneficial Owners will receive distributions and will be
able to transfer their interest.
The Residual Certificate will be issued as a single Certificate and
maintained in fully registered certificated form.
Neither the Depositor nor the Indenture Trustee or any of their
respective affiliates will have any liability for any actions taken by DTC or
its nominee including, without limitation, actions with respect to any aspect
of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests in the Book-Entry Notes held by Cede, as nominee for DTC, or with
respect to maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those
beneficial ownership interests.
Definitive Notes
Definitive Notes will be issued to Beneficial Owners or their
nominees, respectively, rather than to DTC or its nominee, only under the
limited conditions set forth in the Prospectus under "Description of the
Securities -- Book-Entry Registration."
Upon the occurrence of an event described in the Prospectus under
"Description of the Securities -- Book-Entry Registration," the Indenture
Trustee (through DTC) is required to notify Participants who have ownership of
Book-Entry Notes as indicated on the records of DTC of the availability of
Definitive Notes for their Book-Entry Notes. Upon surrender by DTC of the
Definitive Notes representing the Book-Entry Notes and upon receipt of
instructions from DTC for re-registration, the Indenture Trustee will re-issue
the Book-Entry Notes as Definitive Notes in the respective Classes and
principal amounts owned by individual Beneficial Owners, and thereafter the
Indenture Trustee will recognize the holders of Definitive Notes as
Noteholders under the Indenture.
For additional information regarding DTC and the Book-Entry Notes,
see "Description of the Securities -- Book-Entry Registration" in the
Prospectus.
Priority of Payments
Payments will be made on each Payment Date from the Available Payment
Amount (as defined herein) in the following order of priority:
[To be provided as applicable]
Payments of Interest
Interest on each Class of Notes will accrue during each Accrual
Period (as defined herein) at the interest rate specified on the front cover
hereof (the "Interest Rate") and will be payable to Noteholders on each
Payment Date, starting in [ ]. [If the Residual Certificateholder
does not exercise its option to purchase the Mortgage Loans and the other
assets of the Trust when it is first entitled to do so, as described under
"--Optional Redemption" herein, then with respect to each succeeding Payment
Date the Interest Rate will be increased [to be provided as applicable.]] See
"-- Optional Redemption" herein. Interest on the Class [ ] Notes will be
calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Interest on
the Class [ ] Notes will be calculated on the basis of the actual number of
days and a year of 360 days.
Interest will be paid, except to the extent described below, from the
Available Payment Amount on each Payment Date. Accrued Interest not
distributed on the Payment Date related to the Accrual Period in which it
accrued, other than any Net Prepayment Interest Shortfalls, will be an
"Interest Shortfall." Interest will not accrue on Interest Shortfalls.
o The "Interest Rate" for each Class of Notes will be the per
annum rate described on the cover page hereof.
o The "Net Mortgage Rate" for any Mortgage Loan at any time
equals the Mortgage Rate thereof minus the sum of the [Servicing
Fee Rate and the rate of the trust's administrative fees] (as
defined herein).
o The "Principal Amount" of any Note as of any Payment Date will
equal the Principal Amount as of the Closing Date as reduced by
all amounts previously distributed on the Note in respect of
principal.
o The "Accrual Period" for (1) the Class [ ] Notes will be the
calendar month immediately preceding the month in which the
related Payment Date occurs and (2) the Class [ ] Notes will be
the period from the preceding Payment Date (or from the Closing
Date in the case of the first Payment Date) to and including the
day prior to the current Payment Date.
Prepayment Interest Shortfalls
When a principal prepayment in full is made on a Mortgage Loan, the
mortgagor is charged interest only to the date of prepayment, instead of for a
full month. Partial principal prepayments are applied as of the first day of
the month of receipt, with a resulting reduction in interest payable for the
month during which the partial prepayment is made. Full or partial prepayments
(or proceeds of other liquidations) received during any Prepayment Period (as
defined herein) will be paid to Noteholders on the Payment Date following the
Prepayment Period. To the extent that, as a result of a full or partial
prepayment, a mortgagor is not required to pay a full month's interest on the
amount prepaid, a shortfall in the amount available to make payment of
interest on the Notes could result. The difference between one month's
interest at the Mortgage Rate (giving effect to any Relief Act Reduction), as
reduced by the Servicing Fee Rate, on a Mortgage Loan as to which a voluntary
prepayment has been made and the amount of interest actually received in
connection with the prepayment is a "Prepayment Interest Shortfall."
With respect to prepayments in full or in part, the Servicer is
obligated to reduce the aggregate of its Servicing Fees (as defined herein)
for the related Payment Date to fund any Prepayment Interest Shortfalls. See
"Servicing of the Mortgage Loans -- Prepayment Interest Shortfalls." [Any
Prepayment Interest Shortfalls not funded by the Servicer ("Net Prepayment
Interest Shortfalls") will be allocated among all Classes of Notes, pro rata
in proportion to Accrued Interest thereon for the related Payment Date.]
Payments of Principal
Payments of principal on each Class of Notes will be made on each
Payment Date as described herein in an aggregate amount equal to the Principal
Payment Amount, to the extent of the Available Payment Amount available to
make payments in accordance with the priorities set forth under "-- Priority
of Payments" above. The "Principal Payment Amount" for any Payment Date will,
equal [To be provided as applicable]
The "Scheduled Principal Balance" of any Mortgage Loan as of any date
of determination is generally equal to the principal balance thereof as of the
Cut-off Date, reduced by (1) the principal portion of all Scheduled Payments
due on or before the date of determination, whether or not received, and (2)
all amounts allocable to unscheduled principal payments received on or before
the last day of the Prepayment Period preceding the date of determination.
The "Class Percentage" for each Class of Notes for each Payment Date
will be equal to the percentage obtained by dividing the Class Principal
Amount of the Class immediately prior to the Payment Date by the aggregate
Class Principal Amount of all Notes immediately prior to that date. The
"Subordinate Class Percentage" for each Class of Subordinated Notes for each
Payment Date will be equal to the percentage obtained by dividing the Class
Principal Amount of the Class immediately prior to that Payment Date by the
aggregate Class Principal Amount of all Subordinate Notes immediately prior to
that date.
The "Senior Percentage" for any Payment Date is the percentage
equivalent of a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate Note
Principal Amount of the Senior Notes immediately prior to the Payment Date and
the denominator of which is the aggregate Note Principal Amount of all Classes
of Notes immediately prior to that date. The "Subordinate Percentage" for any
Payment Date will be the difference between 100% and the Senior Percentage for
that date.
[The "Senior Prepayment Percentage" for any Payment Date will be [To
be provided as applicable]]
[The "Subordinate Prepayment Percentage" for any Payment Date will be
the difference between 100% and the Senior Prepayment Percentage for that
date.]
[The "Subordinate Principal Payment Amount" for each Payment Date is
equal to the sum of:
[To be provided as applicable]
Available Payment Amount
The "Due Period" related to each Payment Date begins on the second
day of the month preceding the month in which that Payment Date occurs and
ends on the first day of the month in which the Payment Date occurs. For each
Payment Date, the "Collection Period" ends on the Business Day immediately
preceding the related Remittance Date. The "Prepayment Period" is the calendar
month preceding the month in which the related Payment Date occurs.
The "Remittance Date" is the [ ] day (or if the [ ] day is
not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day) of the month in which the
related Payment Date occurs.
The "Available Payment Amount" on each Payment Date, as more fully
described in the Sale and Collection Agreement, will generally equal the sum
of the following amounts:
(1) the total amount of all cash received by the Servicer with
respect to the related Collection Period (or the related
Prepayment Period, in the case of Principal Prepayments) and
remitted to the Indenture Trustee on the related Remittance Date,
which includes:
(a) Scheduled Payments due on the Mortgage Loans during the
related Due Period and collected prior to the related
Remittance Date or advanced by the Servicer (or the
Indenture Trustee);
(b) payments allocable to principal on the Mortgage Loans (other
than Liquidation Proceeds and Insurance Proceeds) to the
extent received in advance of their scheduled due dates and
applied to reduce the principal balance of the Mortgage
Loans ("Principal Prepayments"), together with accrued
interest thereon, if any, identified as having been received
on the Mortgage Loans during the Prepayment Period, plus any
amounts paid by the Servicer in respect of Prepayment
Interest Shortfalls, in each case for that Payment Date;
(c) the proceeds of any repurchase of a Mortgage Loan required
to be repurchased by the Servicer, the Seller or any other
party as a result of a breach of a representation or
warranty; and
(d) Insurance Proceeds and Liquidation Proceeds, minus:
o all Scheduled Payments of principal and interest
collected but due on a date subsequent to the related Due
Period;
o all Principal Prepayments received or identified after the
related Prepayment Period (together with any interest
payments, if any, received with the prepayments to the
extent that they represent (in accordance with the
Servicer's usual application of funds) the payment of
interest accrued on the related Mortgage Loans for the
period subsequent to the related Prepayment Period);
o Liquidation Proceeds and Insurance Proceeds received
after the related Prepayment Period with respect to the
Mortgage Loans; and
o all amounts due or reimbursable to the Indenture Trustee
pursuant to the Sale and Collection Agreement or the
Indenture and to the Servicer pursuant to the Sale and
Collection Agreement; and
(2) any other payments made by the Servicer, the Seller or the
Depositor with respect to that Payment Date.
"Insurance Proceeds" means all proceeds of applicable insurance
policies, to the extent those proceeds are not applied to the restoration of
the Mortgaged Property or released to the Mortgagor.
"Liquidation Proceeds" means all amounts net of unreimbursed expenses
incurred in connection with liquidation or foreclosure and unreimbursed
Advances, if any, received and retained in connection with the liquidation of
defaulted Mortgage Loans, by foreclosure or otherwise, together with any net
proceeds received on a monthly basis with respect to any properties acquired
on behalf of the Noteholders by foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure.
Credit Enhancement
Credit enhancement for each Class of Notes will take the form of
[described as applicable]:
o [an irrevocable letter of credit]
o [the subordination of the Class [ ] Notes (the "Subordinate
Notes") to the Class [ ] Notes (the "Senior Notes")]
o [reserve funds]
o [a pool insurance policy, bankruptcy bond, repurchase bond or
special hazard insurance policy]
o [a surety bond or financial guaranty insurance policy]
o [the use of cross-support features]
[The Residual Certificate
In addition to distributions of principal and interest, the holder of
the Residual Certificate will be entitled to receive, generally, (1) the
amount, if any, of any Available Payment Amount remaining on any Payment Date
after payments of principal and interest are made on each Class of Notes on
that date and (2) the proceeds, if any, of the assets of the Trust Estate
remaining after each Class of Notes has been paid in full. It is generally not
anticipated that any material assets will be remaining for payments at that
time. See "Material Federal Income Tax Considerations" herein and in the
accompanying Prospectus.]
Maturity Date
The Class Principal Amount of the Class [ ] Notes and the Class [ ]
Notes and all interest accrued and unpaid thereon will be payable in full on
[ ] (the "Maturity Date"). See "The Trust Agreement, Sale and Collection
Agreement, Indenture and Administration Agreement -- Certain Matters Under the
Agreements -- Events of Default Under the Indenture". The actual final Payment
Date for the Notes could be substantially earlier than the Maturity Date.
Optional Redemption
On any Payment Date after the date on which the aggregate Scheduled
Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans is less than [ ]% of the Cut-off Date
Balance, the [ ] (subject to the terms of the Sale and Collection
Agreement) will have the option to cause the sale of the Mortgage Loans, any
REO Property and any other property remaining in the Trust. If the purchase
option is exercised, each Class of Notes will be redeemed and the Residual
Certificate and the Trust will be terminated (which event is an "Optional
Redemption").
The purchase price of the Mortgage Loans must be equal to the sum of
(1) 100% of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Mortgage Loans,
plus accrued interest thereon at the applicable Mortgage Rate, and (2) the
fair market value of all other property remaining in the Trust.
Description of the Mortgage Pool
General
The Mortgage Pool will consist of approximately [ ] conventional,
adjustable rate, monthly payment Mortgage Loans with original terms to
maturity of not more than [ ] years. The Mortgage Loans had an aggregate
Scheduled Principal Balance as of the Cut-off Date of approximately $[ ].
The Mortgage Loans were originated or acquired by [Originator] generally in
accordance with the underwriting criteria then in effect as described herein.
Interest on the Mortgage Loans accrues on the basis of a 360-day year
consisting of twelve 30-day months. Wherever reference is made herein to a
percentage of some or all of the Mortgage Loans, that percentage is determined
(unless otherwise specified) on the basis of the aggregate Scheduled Principal
Balance of the Mortgage Loans as of the Cut-off Date.
Each Mortgage Loan bears interest at a Mortgage Rate that is [To be
provided as applicable]
The weighted average Loan-to-Value Ratio of the Mortgage Loans at
origination was approximately [ ]%, and no Mortgage Loan had a Loan-to-Value
Ratio at origination exceeding [ ]%. None of the Mortgaged Loans are covered
by primary mortgage insurance. The "Loan-to-Value Ratio" of a Mortgage Loan at
any time is the ratio of the principal balance of the Mortgage Loan at the
date of determination to (1) in the case of a purchase, the lesser of the sale
price of the Mortgaged Property and its appraised value at the time of sale,
or (2) in the case of a refinance or modification, the appraised value of the
Mortgaged Property at the time of any refinance or modification.
The Mortgage Loans are expected to have the following approximate
aggregate characteristics as of the Cut-off Date. Prior to the issuance of the
Securities, Mortgage Loans may be removed from the Trust as a result of
incomplete documentation or otherwise, if the Depositor deems removal
necessary or appropriate. In addition, a limited number of other mortgage
loans may be included in the Trust Fund prior to the issuance of the
Securities.
Number of Mortgage Loans.................. [ ]
Aggregate Scheduled Principal
Balance.................................. $[ ]
Mortgage Rates:
Weighted Average......................... [ ]%
Range.................................... [ ]% to [ ]%
Weighted Average Remaining Term to
Maturity (in months)..................... [ ]
The Scheduled Principal Balances of the Mortgage Loans ranged from
$[ ] to $[ ]. The Mortgage Loans had an average Scheduled Principal
Balance of approximately $[ ].
No more than approximately [ ]% of the Mortgage Loans were secured by
Mortgaged Properties located in any one zip code area.
[None of the Mortgage Loans are subject to negative amortization.]
The following tables set forth, as of the Cut-off Date, the number,
aggregate Scheduled Principal Balance and percentage of the Mortgage Loans
having the stated characteristics shown in the tables in each range.
(The sum of the amounts of the aggregate Scheduled Principal Balances
and the percentages in the following tables may not equal the totals due to
rounding.)
Original Loan-to-Value Ratios
Percentage of
Aggregate Mortgage Loans
Scheduled by Aggregate
Range of Original Loan-to- Number of Principal Scheduled
Value Ratios*(%) Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
-------------------------- -------------- --------- -----------------
........................... $ %
...........................
...........................
...........................
-------------- --------- -----------------
Total................. $ 100.00%
============== ========= =================
The weighted average original Loan-to-Value Ratio is approximately
[ ]%.
Mortgage Rates
Percentage of
Mortgage Loans
Range of Scheduled by Aggregate
Mortgage Rates Number of Principal Scheduled
(%) Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
-------------- -------------- --------- -----------------
.................. $ %
..................
..................
..................
-------------- --------- -----------------
Total........ $ 100.00%
============== ========= =================
The weighted average Mortgage Rate is approximately [ ]%.
<PAGE>
Original Terms to Maturity
Percentage of
Mortgage Loans
Range of Scheduled by Aggregate
Maturities Number of Principal Scheduled
(months) Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
---------- -------------- --------- -----------------
............... $ %
...............
...............
...............
-------------- --------- -----------------
Total..... $ 100.00%
============== ========= =================
The weighted average original term to maturity is approximately [ ]%.
Remaining Terms to Maturity
Percentage of
Aggregate Mortgage Loans
Range of Scheduled By Aggregate
Maturities Number of Principal Scheduled
(months) Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
---------- -------------- ---------- -----------------
............. $ %
.............
.............
.............
-------------- ---------- -----------------
Total... $ 100.00%
============== ========== =================
The weighted average remaining term to maturity is approximately [ ]%.
Geographic Distribution
Percentage of
Aggregate Mortgage Loans
Scheduled By Aggregate
Number of Principal Scheduled
State Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
---------- -------------- --------- -----------------
$ %
..............
..............
..............
..............
..............
-------------- --------- -----------------
Total.... $ 100.00%
============== ========= =================
Scheduled Principal Balances
Percentage of
Aggregate Mortgage Loans
Range of Scheduled By Aggregate
Scheduled Number of Principal Scheduled
Principal Balances ($) Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
---------------------- -------------- --------- -----------------
$ %
.......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
-------------- --------- -----------------
Total............. $ 100.00%
============== ========= =================
The average Scheduled Principal Balance is approximately $[ ]%.
Property Types
Percentage of
Aggregate Mortgage Loans
Scheduled By Aggregate
Number of Principal Scheduled
Property Type Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
------------- -------------- --------- -----------------
.................. $ %
..................
..................
..................
-------------- --------- -----------------
Total........ $ 100.00%
============== ========= =================
Loan Purposes
Percentage of
Aggregate Mortgage Loans
Scheduled By Aggregate
Number of Principal Scheduled
Loan Purposes Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
------------- -------------- --------- -----------------
.................. $ %
..................
..................
..................
-------------- --------- -----------------
Total........ $ 100.00%
============== ========= =================
Occupancy Status
Percentage of
Aggregate Mortgage Loans
Scheduled By Aggregate
Number of Principal Scheduled
Occupancy Status Mortgage Loans Balance Principal Balance
---------------- -------------- --------- -----------------
.................. $ %
..................
..................
..................
-------------- --------- -----------------
Total........ $ 100.00%
============== ========= =================
[The Index [if applicable]
The Index used in the determination of the Mortgage Rates of the
Mortgage Loans will be [ ], as published by [ ](the "Index").]
Additional Information
The description in this Prospectus Supplement of the Mortgage Loans
and the Mortgaged Properties is based upon the pool of Mortgage Loans as
constituted at the close of business on the Cut-off Date, as adjusted for
Scheduled Payments due on or before that date. A Current Report on Form 8-K
will be available to purchasers of the Notes and will be filed, together with
the Indenture, the Sale and Collection Agreement and the Trust Agreement, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission within fifteen days after the initial
issuance of the Notes. In the event Mortgage Loans are removed from or added
to the pool of Mortgage Loans as set forth under "Description of The Mortgage
Pool," the removal or addition will be noted in the Current Report on Form
8-K.
[The Servicer]
General
The information in this section has been provided by [Servicer].
Neither the Depositor nor the Underwriter makes any representations or
warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of this information.
Delinquency Experience
Generally, when a mortgagor fails to make a required payment on a
mortgage loan and does not cure the deficiency promptly, the loan is
classified as delinquent. In many cases, delinquencies are cured promptly, but
if not, foreclosure proceedings are generally commenced. The procedural steps
necessary for foreclosure vary from state to state, but generally, if the loan
is not reinstated within certain periods specified by the relevant mortgage
loan documents, the property securing the loan can be acquired by the lender.
If a mortgagee takes title to the mortgaged property through foreclosure but
the mortgaged property had a value lower than the outstanding amount of the
debt, the law in certain states permits the mortgagee to obtain a deficiency
judgment in the amount of the difference. The laws of certain other states
restrict or prohibit deficiency judgments. It is anticipated that, in those
states where deficiency judgments are permitted, the Servicer will determine
on a case-by-case basis whether to seek a deficiency judgment.
Loan Servicing Activities
As of [ ], [Servicer]'s total loan portfolio contained loans
with an aggregate outstanding principal balance of approximately $[ ]
billion. The loans contained in [the Servicer]'s servicing portfolio include
fixed and adjustable rate loans, first and second lien loans and one- to four
family loans, and therefore may differ significantly from the Mortgage Loans.
There can be no assurance, and no representation is made, that the delinquency
experience with respect to the Mortgage Loans will be similar to that
reflected in the table below, nor is any representation made as to the rate at
which losses may be experienced on liquidation of defaulted Mortgage Loans.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
delinquency experience of [Originator] with respect to all mortgage loans
serviced by it. The indicated periods of delinquency are based on the number
of days past due on a contractual basis.
Mortgage Loan Portfolio(1)
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
[Date] [Date]
--------------------------- ---------------------------
Number Dollar Number Dollar
of Loans Amount Percent of Loans Amount Percent
-------- ------ ------- -------- ------ -------
Portfolio Principal
Balance............ $ 100.00% $ 100.00%
Delinquent Loans
30-59 days
delinquent...........
60-89 days
delinquent...........
90+ days
delinquent
Non-accrual
Loans(2).............
Total................
Net Charge-offs......
REO..................
__________
(1) Percentages in the table are rounded to the nearest 0.01%; dollar amounts
are rounded to the nearest dollar.
(2) In general, a "Non-accrual Loan" is a Mortgage Loan as to which (i)
payments are delinquent for a specified period (based on the principal
balance of the loan) or (ii) [the Servicer] determines that collection is
in doubt.
The above delinquency statistics represent the recent experience of
[the Servicer]. There can be no assurance, however, that the delinquency
experience on the Mortgage Loans will be comparable. In addition, the
foregoing statistics include mortgage loans with a variety of payment and
other characteristics that may not correspond to those of the Mortgage Loans.
The actual loss and delinquency experience on the Mortgage Loans will depend
on, among other things, the value of the real estate and cooperative shares
securing the Mortgage Loans and the ability of the mortgagors to make required
payments. If [the Servicer] undertakes litigation or retains outside attorneys
or investigators the cost thereof will be borne by the Trust or the
Securityholders. [the Servicer] will not be required to advance funds for the
conduct of litigation or the hiring of outside attorneys or investigators, if
it reasonably believes that its advances will not be promptly reimbursed.
The likelihood that mortgagors will become delinquent in the payment
of their mortgage loans and the rate of any subsequent foreclosures may be
affected by a number of factors related to borrowers' personal circumstances,
including, for example, unemployment or change in employment (or in the case
of self- employed mortgagors or mortgagors relying on commission income,
fluctuations in income), marital separation and a mortgagor's equity in the
related mortgaged property. In addition, delinquency and foreclosure
experience may be sensitive to adverse economic conditions, either nationally
or regionally, may exhibit seasonal variations and may be influenced by the
level of interest rates and servicing decisions on the applicable mortgage
loans. Regional economic conditions (including declining real estate values)
may particularly affect delinquency and foreclosure experience on mortgage
loans to the extent that mortgaged properties are concentrated in certain
geographic areas.
Servicing of the Mortgage Loans
The Mortgage Loans will be serviced by [Servicer], as Servicer (the
"Servicer"), generally in accordance with the procedures as described in the
Prospectus under the heading "Servicing of Loans," pursuant to an agreement
(the "Servicing Agreement") between the Seller and [Servicer]. The Seller's
rights under the Servicing Agreement will be assigned to the Trust. References
in the Prospectus to the "Master Servicer" generally include the Servicer, and
references in the Prospectus to the "Servicer" generally include the
Subservicer. Although the Servicer will employ the Subservicer to directly
service the Mortgage Loans, the Servicer will remain liable for its servicing
obligations under the Servicing Agreement as if the Servicer were directly
servicing the Mortgage Loan.
[The Subservicer [if applicable]
The Mortgage Loans will be subserviced by a designated servicing
staff of the [ ]. The Subservicer is [ ]. The Subservicer originates,
purchases and services residential and commercial mortgage loans through
approximately [ ] offices throughout the United States.]
[Insurance Coverage
The Servicer is required to obtain and thereafter maintain in effect
a bond, corporate guaranty or similar form of insurance coverage (which may
provide blanket coverage), or any combination thereof, insuring against loss
occasioned by the errors and omissions of the Servicer's officers and
employees.]
Servicing Compensation and Payment of Expenses
The Servicer will be paid a monthly fee with respect to each Mortgage
Loan equal to [ ]% per annum (the "Servicing Fee Rate") of the principal
balance of the Mortgage Loan (the "Servicing Fee"). The Servicing Fee is
subject to reduction with respect to any Payment Date as described below under
"-- Prepayment Interest Shortfalls."
The Servicer will be entitled to receive, as additional compensation,
any interest or other income earned on funds it has deposited in a custodial
account pending remittance to the Indenture Trustee, as well as certain
customary fees and charges paid by borrowers. The Servicer will also be
entitled to reimbursement for certain expenses prior to payments of any
amounts to Securityholders. See "Servicing of Loans -- Servicing Compensation
and Payment of Expenses" in the Prospectus.
Prepayment Interest Shortfalls
When a borrower prepays a Mortgage Loan in full between Due Dates,
the mortgagor pays interest on the amount prepaid only from the last scheduled
Due Date to the date of prepayment. Partial principal prepayments are applied
as of the first day of the month of receipt, with a resulting reduction in
interest payable for the month during which the partial prepayment is made.
Any Prepayment Interest Shortfall is required to be paid by the Servicer, to
the extent that this amount does not exceed the aggregate of the Servicing
Fees on the Mortgage Loans serviced by it for the applicable Payment Date,
through a reduction in the amount of Servicing Fees. See "Description of the
Notes -- Payments of Interest" herein.
Advances
The Servicer will be obligated to make Advances with respect to
delinquent payments of principal of and interest on the Mortgage Loans,
adjusted to the related Net Mortgage Rate, to the extent that the Advances, in
its judgment, are recoverable from future payments and collections, insurance
payments or proceeds of liquidation of a Mortgage Loan. The Indenture Trustee
will be obligated to make any Advances if the Servicer fails to do so, to the
extent provided in the Sale and Collection Agreement. The Servicer or the
Indenture Trustee, as applicable, will be entitled to recover any Advances
made by it with respect to a Mortgage Loan out of late payments thereon or out
of related Liquidation Proceeds and Insurance Proceeds or, if these amounts
are insufficient, from collections on other Mortgage Loans. Such
reimbursements may result in Realized Losses.
The purpose of making Advances is to maintain a regular cash flow to
the Noteholders, rather than to guarantee or insure against losses. No party
will be required to make any Advance with respect to a reduction in the amount
of the monthly payment on a Mortgage Loan due to a reduction made by a
bankruptcy court in the amount of a Scheduled Payment owed by a mortgagor or a
Relief Act Reduction.
o A "Realized Loss" means:
o with respect to a Liquidated Mortgage Loan, the amount by
which the remaining unpaid principal balance of the Mortgage
Loan plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and any
related expenses exceeds the amount of Liquidation Proceeds
received in respect of the Mortgage Loan (net of related
expenses), or
o the amount by which, in the event of bankruptcy of a
borrower, a bankruptcy court reduces the secured debt to the
value of the related Mortgaged
o In determining whether a Realized Loss is a loss of
principal or of interest, Liquidation Proceeds and other
recoveries on a Mortgage Loan will be applied first to
outstanding expenses incurred with respect to the Mortgage
Loan, then to accrued, unpaid interest, and finally to
principal.
o "Liquidated Mortgage Loan" is generally a defaulted Mortgage
Loan as to which the Mortgage Loan or related REO Property has
been disposed of and all amounts expected to be recovered in
respect of the Mortgage Loan have been received by the Servicer on
behalf of the Trust.
Collection of Taxes, Assessments and Similar Items
The Servicer generally does not require that escrow accounts be
maintained for the collection of hazard insurance premiums and real estate
taxes with respect to the Mortgage Loans. The Servicer will make advances with
respect to delinquencies in required escrow payments by the related
mortgagors.
Certain Rights Related to Foreclosure
[Certain rights in connection with foreclosure of defaulted Mortgage
Loans may be granted to the holders of the Class [ ] Notes and, when the Notes
are no longer outstanding, to the holders of the Class [ ] Notes. These rights
would include the right to delay foreclosure until a Mortgage Loan has been
delinquent for six months, provided that upon election to delay foreclosure
the holder establishes a reserve fund for the benefit of the Trust in an
amount equal to 125% of the greater of the Scheduled Principal Balance of the
Mortgage Loan and the appraised value of the related Mortgaged Property, plus
three months' accrued interest on the Mortgage Loan. Any exercise of the right
to delay foreclosure could affect the amount recovered upon liquidation of the
related Mortgaged Property.]
The Trust Agreement, Sale and Collection Agreement,
Indenture and Administration Agreement
General
The following summary describes certain terms of the Trust Agreement,
the Sale and Collection Agreement, the Indenture and the Administration
Agreement (collectively, the "Agreements"). The summary does not purport to be
complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all
the provisions of the Agreements. The following summary supplements, and to
the extent inconsistent with, replaces the description of the general terms
and provisions of the Agreements under the heading "The Agreements" in the
Prospectus.
Certain Matters Under the Agreements
Assignment of the Trust Property
On the Closing Date, the Seller will sell the Mortgage Loans to the
Depositor and, pursuant to the Sale and Collection Agreement, the Depositor
will assign and transfer the Mortgage Loans to the Trust, without recourse.
Concurrently with these transfers, the Trust will pledge the Mortgage Loans to
the Indenture Trustee to secure the Notes and will cause the Securities to be
delivered to the Depositor. Under the Sale and Collection Agreement, the Trust
will be entitled to all principal and interest due on the Mortgage Loans on or
after the Cut-off Date.
Each Mortgage Loan will be identified in a schedule appearing as an
exhibit to the Sale and Collection Agreement, which will specify with respect
to each Mortgage Loan, among other things, the original principal amount and
the outstanding principal amount as of the close of business on the Cut-off
Date, the Mortgage Rate, the Scheduled Payment, and the maturity date.
As to each Mortgage Loan, the following documents are generally
required to be delivered to the Indenture Trustee (or its custodian), in
accordance with the Sale and Collection Agreement:
o the related original Mortgage Note endorsed without recourse to
the Indenture Trustee or in blank,
o the original Mortgage with evidence of recording indicated
thereon, (or, if the original recorded Mortgage has not yet been
returned by the recording office, a copy thereof certified to be
a true and complete copy of the Mortgage sent for recording) or,
in the case of a Cooperative Loan, the original security
agreement and related documents,
o an original assignment of the Mortgage to the Indenture Trustee
or in blank in recordable form or, in the case of a Cooperative
Loan, an original assignment of security agreement and related
documents,
o the policies of title insurance issued with respect to each
Mortgage Loan (other than a Cooperative Loan), and
o the originals of any assumption, modification, extension or
guaranty agreements.
Where necessary to protect the interest of the Indenture Trustee in
the Mortgage Loans, the assignments to the Indenture Trustee in connection
with the Mortgage Loans are required to be submitted for recording promptly
after the Closing Date. A custodian acting on behalf of the Seller will have
reviewed each mortgage file prior to the Closing Date and, if any document is
found to be defective in any material respect and [Originator] does not cure
the defect within 90 days of notice thereof, [Originator] will obligated to
purchase the related Mortgage Loan from the Seller (or, in certain
circumstances, substitute another mortgage loan).
The [Originator] may have made, as of the date of sale of the
Mortgage Loans to the Seller certain representations and warranties concerning
the Mortgage Loans that include representations and warranties similar to
those summarized in the Prospectus under the heading "Loan Underwriting
Procedures and Standards -- Representations and Warranties." The Seller's
rights against the Originator with respect to those representations and
warranties [may] be assigned to the Trust and pledged to the Indenture Trustee
for the benefit of Noteholders. Upon the occurrence of a breach of any
representation or warranty with respect to a Mortgage Loan, or receipt of
notice of the breach, [Originator] will be obligated to purchase the affected
Mortgage Loan from the Seller for a price equal to the unpaid principal
balance thereof plus accrued interest thereon (or, in certain circumstances,
substitute another mortgage loan), in which case the Seller will repurchase
the Mortgage Loan from the Trust (or, the breaching Mortgage Loan will be
substituted with another mortgage loan).
The Seller will make to the Depositor (and the Depositor will assign
its rights thereunder to the Trust) only certain limited representations and
warranties intended to address certain material conditions that may arise with
respect to the Mortgage Loans between the date the Seller acquires the
Mortgage Loans from the [Originator] and the Closing Date. In the event of a
breach of any representation or warranty that does not constitute a breach of
any representation or warranty made by [Originator] as described above, the
Seller will be obligated in the same manner as [Originator], as described
above.
To the extent that any Mortgage Loan is not repurchased by
[Originator] or the Seller and a Realized Loss occurs on the Mortgage Loan,
the Noteholders, in particular the Subordinate Notes, may fail to recover
their entire investment in the Notes.
Events of Default Under the Indenture
Events of default under the Indenture (each, an "Indenture Default")
will generally consist of:
o a default for a period in excess of five days in the payment of
any interest on any Note then outstanding, which default occurs
on [six] consecutive Payment Dates;
o a default in the payment of the entire principal of any Note on
the Maturity Date;
o a default in the observance or performance of any covenant or
agreement of the Issuer made in the Indenture and the
continuation of any default for a period of 30 days after notice
thereof is given to the Issuer as provided in the Indenture;
o any representation or warranty made by the Issuer in the
Indenture, the Sale and Collection Agreement or in any
certificate delivered pursuant thereto or in connection
therewith having been incorrect in any material respect when
made, and the breach not having been cured within 30 days after
notice thereof is given to the Issuer as provided in the
Indenture; and
o certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or
liquidation of the Issuer.
If an Indenture Default occurs and is continuing, the Indenture
Trustee or holders of more than 50% of the Notes then outstanding may declare
the principal of the Notes to be immediately due and payable. This declaration
may, under certain circumstances, be rescinded by the holders of more than 50%
of the Notes.
If the Notes are declared immediately due and payable following an
Indenture Default, the Indenture Trustee may institute proceedings to sell the
assets of the Trust pledged to secure the Notes, exercise remedies as a
secured party, or elect to have the Issuer maintain possession of the assets
and continue to apply collections on the assets as if there had been no
declaration of acceleration.
However, the Indenture Trustee is prohibited from selling the assets
of the Trust following an Indenture Default unless certain conditions are
satisfied. See "The Agreements--Event of Default; Rights Upon Event of Default
- -- Indenture" in the accompanying Prospectus.
Proceeds from the sale of Trust assets will be applied to payment of
the Notes, as provided in the Indenture.
No holder of a Note will have the right to institute any proceeding
with respect to the Indenture, unless:
o the holder previously has given to the Indenture Trustee written
notice of a continuing Indenture Default;
o the holders of a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding Notes have made written request to the Indenture
Trustee to institute proceeding in its own name as Indenture
Trustee;
o the holder or holders have offered the Indenture Trustee
reasonable indemnity;
o the Indenture Trustee has for 60 days after receipt of notice of
default failed to institute the proceeding; and
o no direction inconsistent with the written request has been
given to the Indenture Trustee during the 60-day period by the
holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding
Notes.
In addition, the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders, by accepting
the Notes, will covenant that they will not at any time institute against the
Depositor or the Issuer any bankruptcy, reorganization or other proceeding
under any federal or state bankruptcy or similar law.
Neither the Indenture Trustee nor the Owner Trustee in its individual
capacity, nor any holder of a Residual Certificate nor any of their respective
owners, beneficiaries, agents, officers, directors, employees, affiliates,
successors or assigns will, in the absence of an express agreement to the
contrary, be personally liable for the payment of the principal of or interest
on the Notes or for the agreements of the Issuer contained in the Indenture.
Redemption
The Notes are subject to redemption under the circumstances described
under "Description of the Notes--Optional Redemption" above.
The Indenture will be discharged upon the delivery to the Indenture
Trustee for cancellation of all Notes or, with certain limitations, upon
deposit with the Indenture Trustee of funds sufficient for the payment in full
of all the Notes.
The Indenture Trustee
Pursuant to the Indenture, [ ], a [ ], will be
appointed Indenture Trustee and will be charged with the duties set forth in
the Indenture in connection with the issuance of the Notes, conservation of the
Trust Estate pledged to secure the Notes and payments to Noteholders under and
in accordance with the Indenture. The Indenture Trustee will receive a fee
equal to [ ] per annum, [payable monthly], as specified in the Sale and
Collection Agreement.
The Indenture Trustee may resign, or the holders of a majority in
outstanding principal amount of the Notes may remove the Indenture Trustee, at
any time, in which event the Owner Trustee will be obligated to appoint a
successor indenture trustee. The Issuer is obligated to remove the Indenture
Trustee if the Indenture Trustee ceases to be eligible to continue as such
under the Indenture, becomes insolvent, or because of some conflict of
interest, the Indenture Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting as
trustee under the Indenture. Any resignation or removal of the Indenture
Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee for the Notes does not become
effective until acceptance of the appointment by the successor indenture
trustee.
The offices of the Indenture Trustee are located at [ ].
Administration
[ ], will act as administrator under the Administration
Agreement among the Issuer, the Administrator and the Seller (the
"Administration Agreement"). The Administrator will agree, to the extent
provided in the Administration Agreement, to provide certain notices and to
perform certain other administrative obligations required to be performed by
the Issuer under the Sale and Collection Agreement, the Indenture and the Trust
Agreement. Certain additional administrative functions will be performed on
behalf of the Issuer by the Depositor.
Amendment
The Sale and Collection Agreement may be amended by the Depositor,
the Trust and the Indenture Trustee, without the consent of the
Securityholders:
o to cure any ambiguity;
o to correct or supplement any provision therein that may be
inconsistent with any other provision therein or to correct any
error;
o to make any other provisions with respect to matters or
questions arising under the Sale and Collection Agreement;
provided that no amendment may adversely affect in any material
respect the interests of an Securityholder; or
o to add, delete, or amend any provisions to the extent necessary
or desirable to comply with any requirements imposed by the
Code.
The Sale and Collection Agreement may also be amended by the
Depositor, the Servicer and the Indenture Trustee with the consent of the
holders of not less than 662/4% of the Class Principal Amount of the Notes and
the same percentage interest of the Residual Certificates, for the purpose of
adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the
provisions of the Sale and Collection or of modifying in any manner the rights
of the Securityholders; provided, however, that no amendment may
o reduce in any manner the amount of, delay the timing of or
change the manner in which payments received on or with respect
to the Trust assets which are required to be distributed on a
Security of any Class without the consent of the Securityholder;
or
o reduce the percentage of Securities of any Class the holders of
which are required to consent to any amendment unless the
holders of all Securities of the related Class have consented to
the change in the percentage.
Generally, the Trust Agreement, the Indenture and the Administration
Agreement are subject to amendment by the parties thereto under the same
conditions as those described above, except that in the case of the Trust
Agreement references to Securities and Securityholders should be read as
referring to Residual Certificates and Residual Certificateholders, and in the
case of the Indenture these references should be read as referring to Notes
and Noteholders. Any amendment of the provisions of the Indenture will take
the form of a supplemental indenture.
In addition to the purposes described above with respect to the Sale
and Collection Agreement, the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee may enter into
supplemental indentures, without obtaining the consent of the Noteholders, for
the purpose of correcting or amplifying the description of any property
subject to the Indenture, evidencing the succession of a successor to the
Issuer, adding to the covenants of the Issuer or surrendering any power
conferred upon the Issuer under the Indenture, or conveying or pledging any
property to the Indenture Trustee.
The Depositor will provide to a prospective or actual Noteholder,
without charge, on written request, copies (without exhibits) of the
Agreements. Requests should be addressed to Contract Finance, Lehman Brothers,
3 World Financial Center, New York, New York 10285.
Voting Rights
Voting rights under the Indenture will be allocated among the Notes
in proportion to their respective Note Principal Amounts.
Yield, Prepayment and Weighted Average Life
General
The yields to maturity on the Notes will be affected by the rate of
principal payments on the Mortgage Loans (including prepayments, which may
include amounts received by virtue of repurchase, condemnation, insurance or
foreclosure), the extent to which Mortgage Loans bearing higher Mortgage Rates
prepay at a more rapid rate than Mortgage Loans with lower rates, the amount
and timing of mortgagor delinquencies and defaults resulting in Realized
Losses, the purchase price for the Notes and other factors.
Principal prepayments may be influenced by a variety of economic,
geographic, demographic, social, tax, legal and other factors. In general, if
prevailing interest rates fall below the interest rates on the Mortgage Loans,
the Mortgage Loans are likely to be subject to a higher rate of prepayment
than if prevailing rates remain at or above the interest rates on the Mortgage
Loans. Conversely, if prevailing interest rates rise above the interest rates
on the Mortgage Loans, the rate of prepayment would be expected to decrease.
Other factors affecting prepayment of the Mortgage Loans include changes in
borrowers' housing needs, job transfers, unemployment, mortgagors' net equity
in the mortgaged properties, changes in the value of the mortgaged properties,
mortgage market interest rates and servicing decisions. The Mortgage Loans may
generally be prepaid at any time without penalty and generally have
due-on-sale clauses.
The rate of principal payments on the Mortgage Loans will be affected
by the amortization schedules of the Mortgage Loans, the rate and timing of
prepayments thereon by the mortgagors, liquidations of defaulted Mortgage
Loans and repurchases of Mortgage Loans due to certain breaches of
representations and warranties or defective documentation. The weighted
average remaining term to maturity of the Mortgage Loans is approximately
[ ] months; seasoning may influence the performance of the Mortgage
Loans. The timing of changes in the rate of prepayments, liquidations and
repurchases of the Mortgage Loans may, and the timing of Realized Losses will,
significantly affect the yield to an investor, even if the average rate of
principal payments experienced over time is consistent with an investor's
expectation. Since the rate and timing of principal payments on the Mortgage
Loans will depend on future events and on a variety of factors (as described
more fully herein and in the Prospectus under "Yield, Prepayment and Maturity
Considerations"), no assurance can be given as to the actual rate or the
timing of principal payments on the Notes. In general, the earlier a
prepayment of principal of the related Mortgage Loans, the greater the effect
on an investor's yield to maturity. The effect on an investor's yield of
principal payments occurring at a rate higher (or lower) than the rate
anticipated by the investor during the period immediately following the
issuance of the Notes may not be offset by a subsequent like decrease (or
increase) in the rate of principal payments.
Prepayments, liquidations and repurchases of the Mortgage Loans will
result in payments to Noteholders of principal amounts that would otherwise be
paid over the remaining terms of the Mortgage Loans. The rate of defaults on
the Mortgage Loans will also affect the rate and timing of principal payments
on the Mortgage Loans. In general, defaults on mortgage loans are expected to
occur with greater frequency in their early years.
As described herein, approximately [ ]% of the Mortgage Loans do not
provide for monthly payments of principal for the first ten years following
origination. Instead, only monthly payments of interest are due during that
period. Other considerations aside, because of these characteristics,
borrowers may be disinclined to prepay the loans during the ten year period.
In addition, because no principal is due on the loans for their initial ten
year period, the Notes will amortize at a slower rate during that period than
would otherwise be the case. Thereafter, when the monthly payments on the
loans are recalculated on the basis of a twenty year, level payment
amortization schedule as described herein, principal payments on the Notes are
expected to increase correspondingly, and, in any case, at a faster rate than
if payments on the underlying loans were calculated on the basis of a thirty
year amortization schedule. The Mortgage Loans were generally originated (or
modified) with Mortgage Rates for their first three years below the rate that
would have resulted if based on the Index and related Gross Margin. The
Mortgage Loans may experience lower rates of prepayment during the period that
the loans bear interest at the lower Mortgage Rates. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no assurance can be given as to any prepayment rate on the Mortgage
Loans.
[The Interest Rate for the Class [ ] Notes at any time will be capped
at a rate equal to the weighted average of the Net Mortgage Rates of the
Mortgage Loans. To the extent that Mortgage Loans bearing relatively high
Mortgage Rates experience a more rapid rate of prepayment than Mortgage Loans
with relatively low rates, the Interest Rate for the Class [ ] Notes may be
reduced, and this reduction could be substantial.]
If the purchaser of a Note offered at a discount from its initial
principal amount calculates its anticipated yield to maturity based on an
assumed rate of payment of principal that is faster than that actually
experienced on the related Mortgage Loans, the actual yield to maturity may be
lower than that so calculated. Conversely, if the purchaser of a Note offered
at a premium calculates its anticipated yield to maturity based on an assumed
rate of payment of principal that is slower than that actually experienced on
the related Mortgage Loans, the actual yield to maturity may be lower than
that so calculated.
The yields on the Notes will be reduced to the extent that Net
Prepayment Interest Shortfalls are experienced on the Mortgage Loans.
The effective yields to holders of the Notes will be lower than the
yields otherwise produced by the Interest Rate and the related purchase price
because monthly payments will not be made to the holders until the [ ] day (or
the immediately following Business Day if the [ ] day is not a Business Day)
of the month following the month in which interest accrues on the Note
(without any additional payment of interest or earnings thereon in respect of
any delay).
[Subordination of the Class [ ] Notes
On each Payment Date, the holders of any higher ranking Class of
Notes will have a preferential right to receive amounts of interest and
principal due to them on that Payment Date before any payments are made to any
Class of Notes subordinate to that Class. As a result, the yields to maturity
and the aggregate amount of payments to the Class [ ] Notes will be more
sensitive than the yields of higher ranking Notes to the rate of delinquencies
and defaults on the Mortgage Loans.]
Weighted Average Life
Weighted average life refers to the average amount of time that will
elapse from the date of issuance of a security to the date of distribution to
the investor of each dollar distributed in net reduction of principal of the
security (assuming no losses). The weighted average lives of the Notes will be
influenced by, among other things, the rate at which principal of the Mortgage
Loans is paid, which may be in the form of scheduled amortization, prepayments
or liquidations.
Prepayments on mortgage loans are commonly measured relative to a [ ]
prepayment standard or model. The model used in this Prospectus Supplement for
the Mortgage Loans ("[ ]") represents [ ]. [ ] does not purport to be either a
historical description of the prepayment experience of any pool of mortgage
loans or a prediction of the anticipated rate of prepayment of any mortgage
loans, including the Mortgage Loans to be included in the Trust Estate.
The following tables were prepared based on the actual
characteristics of the Mortgage Loans expected to be included in the Trust
Estate and the following additional assumptions (the "Modeling Assumptions"):
(1) the initial Class Principal Amounts and the Interest Rates are
as indicated on the cover of this Prospectus Supplement;
(2) each Scheduled Payment of principal and/or interest is timely
received every month on the first day of each month commencing
in [ ];
(3) principal prepayments are received in full on the last day of
each month commencing in [ ] and there are no Net Prepayment
Interest Shortfalls;
(4) there are no defaults or delinquencies on the Mortgage Loans;
(5) there are no repurchases or substitutions of the Mortgage Loans;
(6) there is no optional redemption of the Notes; and
(7) the Notes are issued on [ ].
The actual characteristics of the Mortgage Loans may, and the
performance of the Mortgage Loans will, differ from the assumptions used in
constructing the tables set forth below, which are hypothetical in nature and
are provided only to give a general sense of how the principal cash flows
might behave under varying prepayment scenarios.
For example, it is not expected that the Mortgage Loans will prepay
at a constant rate until maturity, that all of the Mortgage Loans will prepay
at the same rate or that there will be no defaults or delinquencies on the
Mortgage Loans. Moreover, the diverse remaining terms to maturity of the
Mortgage Loans could produce slower or faster principal payments than
indicated in the tables at the various percentages of [ ] specified, even if
the weighted average remaining term to maturity of the Mortgage Loans is as
assumed. Any difference between the assumptions and the actual characteristics
and performance of the Mortgage Loans, or actual prepayment or loss
experience, will cause the percentages of initial Class Principal Amounts
outstanding over time and the weighted average lives of the Notes to differ
(which difference could be material) from the corresponding information in the
tables for each indicated percentage of [ ].
Subject to the foregoing discussion and assumptions, the following
tables indicate the weighted average lives of the Notes and set forth the
percentages of the initial Class Principal Amounts of the Notes that would be
outstanding after each of the Payment Dates shown at various percentages of
[ ].
Percentage of Initial Class Principal Amount of the
Notes Outstanding at the Following Percentages of [ ]
Class [ ] Notes
------------------------------------------------------
Payment Date % % % % % % %
----------------------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Initial Percentage..... 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Weighted Average Life in
Years**........................
___________
* Indicates a value between 0.0% and 0.5%.
** The weighted average life of a Note is determined by (1) multiplying the
net reduction, if any, of the Class Principal Amount by the number of years
from the date of issuance of the Note to the related Payment Date, (2) adding
the results and (3) dividing the sum by the aggregate of the net reductions of
Class Principal Amount described in (1) above
Material Federal Income Tax Considerations
[In the opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, for federal income tax purposes,
the Notes will be characterized as debt, and the Trust will not be a business
entity classified as an association (or a publicly traded partnership) treated
as a corporation or a taxable mortgage pool. Each Noteholder, by the
acceptance of a Note, will agree to treat the Notes as indebtedness for
federal income tax purposes. See "Material Federal Income Tax Considerations"
in the Prospectus for additional information concerning the application of
federal income tax laws to the Trust and the Notes.]
Legal Investment Considerations
[The Notes will [not] constitute "mortgage related securities" under
the Secondary Mortgage Market Enhancement Act of 1984. Accordingly, many
institutions with legal authority to invest in "mortgage related securities"
may [not] be legally authorized to invest in the Notes.]
Institutions whose investment activities are subject to review by
certain regulatory authorities may be or may become subject to restrictions,
which may be retroactively imposed by the regulatory authorities, on the
investment by those institutions in certain mortgage related securities. In
addition, several states have adopted or may adopt regulations that prohibit
certain state-chartered institutions from purchasing or holding similar types
of securities.
Accordingly, investors should consult their own legal advisors to
determine whether and to what extent the Notes may be purchased by them.
See "Legal Investment Considerations" in the Prospectus.
Use of Proceeds
The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes will be applied by the
Depositor, or an affiliate thereof, toward the purchase of the Mortgage Loans.
The Mortgage Loans will be acquired by the Depositor from the Seller in a
privately negotiated transaction.
Underwriting
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting
agreement and in a terms agreement (collectively, the "Underwriting
Agreement") between the Depositor and the Underwriter, the Depositor has
agreed to sell to the Underwriter, and the Underwriter has agreed to purchase
from the Depositor, all of the Notes.
The distribution of the Notes by the Underwriter will be effected in
each case from time to time in one or more negotiated transactions, or
otherwise, at varying prices to be determined, in each case, at the time of
sale. The Underwriter may effect the transactions by selling the Notes to or
through dealers, and the dealers may receive from the Underwriter, for whom
they act as agent, compensation in the form of underwriting discounts,
concessions or commissions. The Underwriter and any dealers that participate
with the Underwriter in the distribution of the Notes may be deemed to be an
underwriter, and any discounts, commissions or concessions received by them,
and any profit on the resale of the Notes purchased by them, may be deemed to
be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"). The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Depositor
will indemnify the Underwriter against certain civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the Act.
Lehman Brothers Inc. has entered into an agreement with the Depositor
to purchase the Class [ ] Notes simultaneously with the purchase of the Notes,
subject to certain conditions.
Lehman Brothers Inc. is an affiliate of the Depositor.
ERISA Considerations
A fiduciary of any employee benefit plan or other retirement
arrangement subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended ("ERISA"), or the Code should carefully review with its legal advisors
whether the purchase or holding of Notes could give rise to a transaction
prohibited or not otherwise permissible under ERISA or the Code. See "ERISA
Considerations" in the accompanying Prospectus.
Legal Matters
Certain legal matters with respect to the Notes will be passed upon
for the Depositor and for the Underwriter by Brown & Wood LLP, Washington,
D.C.
Ratings
It is a condition to the issuance of the Notes that they be rated "[
]" by [Rating Agency] and "[ ]" by [Rating Agency]. [Rating Agency] and
[Rating Agency] are referred to herein as the "Rating Agencies."
A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold
securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the
assigning rating organization. A securities rating addresses the likelihood of
the receipt by Noteholders of payments in the amount of scheduled payments on
the Mortgage Loans. The rating takes into consideration the characteristics of
the Mortgage Loans and the structural, legal and tax aspects associated with
the Notes. The ratings assigned to the Notes do not represent any assessment
of the likelihood or rate of principal prepayments. The ratings do not address
the possibility that Noteholders might suffer a lower than anticipated yield
due to prepayments or may fail to recoup their initial investments.
The security ratings assigned to the Notes should be evaluated
independently from similar ratings on other types of securities. A security
rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be
subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by either Rating Agency.
The Depositor has not requested a rating of the Notes by any rating
agency other than the Rating Agencies; there can be no assurance, however, as
to whether any other rating agency will rate the Notes or, if it does, what
rating would be assigned by the other rating agency. The rating assigned by
the other rating agency to the Notes could be lower than the ratings assigned
by the Rating Agencies.
<PAGE>
Glossary
Defined terms Page
<PAGE>
Annex I
Global Clearance, Settlement and Tax Documentation Procedures
Except in certain limited circumstances, the globally offered
Structured Asset Securities Corporation [ ] Asset Backed Notes (the
"Global Securities") will be available only in book-entry form. Investors in
the Global Securities may hold the Global Securities through any of DTC,
Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme (formerly Cedelbank) (referred to as
"Clearstream" herein) or Euroclear. The Global Securities will be tradable as
home market instruments in both the European and U.S. domestic markets.
Initial settlement and all secondary trades will settle in same-day funds.
Secondary market trading between investors holding Global Securities
through Clearstream and Euroclear will be conducted in the ordinary way in
accordance with their normal rules and operating procedures and in accordance
with conventional eurobond practice (i.e., seven calendar day settlement).
Secondary market trading between investors holding Global Securities
through DTC will be conducted according to the rules and procedures applicable
to U.S. corporate debt obligations and prior mortgage loan asset backed
certificates issues.
Secondary cross-market trading between Clearstream or Euroclear and
DTC Participants holding Certificates will be effected on a
delivery-against-payment basis through the respective Depositaries of
Clearstream and Euroclear and as DTC Participants.
Non-U.S. holders (as described below) of Global Securities will be
subject to U.S. withholding taxes unless those holders meet certain
requirements and deliver appropriate U.S. tax documents to the securities
clearing organizations or their participants.
Initial Settlement
All Global Securities will be held in book-entry form by DTC in the
name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC. Investors' interests in the Global
Securities will be represented through financial institutions acting on their
behalf as direct and indirect Participants in DTC. As a result, Clearstream
and Euroclear will hold positions on behalf of their participants through
their respective Depositaries, which in turn will hold the positions in
accounts as DTC Participants.
Investors electing to hold their Global Securities through DTC will
follow the settlement practices applicable to prior mortgage loan asset backed
certificates issues. Investor securities custody accounts will be credited
with their holdings against payment in same-day funds on the settlement date.
Investors electing to hold their Global Securities through
Clearstream or Euroclear accounts will follow the settlement procedures
applicable to conventional eurobonds, except that there will be no temporary
global security and no "lock-up" or restricted period. Global Securities will
be credited to the securities custody accounts on the settlement date against
payment in same-day funds.
Secondary Market Trading
Since the purchaser determines the place of delivery, it is important
to establish at the time of the trade where both the purchaser's and seller's
accounts are located to ensure that settlement can be made on the desired
value date.
Trading between DTC Participants. Secondary market trading between
DTC Participants will be settled using the procedures applicable to prior
mortgage loan asset backed certificates issues in same-day funds.
Trading between Clearstream and/or Euroclear Participants. Secondary
market trading between Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants will
be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in
same-day funds.
Trading between DTC Seller and Clearstream or Euroclear Purchaser.
When Global Securities are to be transferred from the account of a DTC
Participant to the account of a Clearstream Participant or a Euroclear
Participant, the purchaser will send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear
through a Clearstream Participant or Euroclear Participant at least one
business day prior to settlement. Clearstream or Euroclear will instruct the
respective Depositary, as the case may be, to receive the Global Securities
against payment. Payment will include interest accrued on the Global
Securities from and including the last interest payment date to and excluding
the settlement date, on the basis of either the actual number of days in the
accrual period and a year assumed to consist of 360 days or a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months as applicable to the related class of Global Securities.
For transactions settling on the 31st of the month, payment will include
interest accrued to and excluding the first day of the following month.
Payment will then be made by the respective Depositary of the DTC
Participant's account against delivery of the Global Securities. After
settlement has been completed, the Global Securities will be credited to the
respective clearing system and by the clearing system, in accordance with its
usual procedures, to the Clearstream Participant's or Euroclear Participant's
account. The securities credit will appear the next day (European time) and
the cash debt will be back-valued to, and the interest on the Global
Securities will accrue from, the value date (that would be the preceding day
when settlement occurred in New York). If settlement is not completed on the
intended value date (i.e., the trade fails), the Clearstream or Euroclear cash
debt will be valued instead as of the actual settlement date.
Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants will need to make
available to the respective clearing systems the funds necessary to process
same-day funds settlement. The most direct means of doing so is to preposition
funds for settlement, either from cash on hand or existing lines of credit, as
they would for any settlement occurring within Clearstream or Euroclear. Under
this approach, they may take on credit exposure to Clearstream or Euroclear
until the Global Securities are credited to their accounts one day later.
As an alternative, if Clearstream or Euroclear has extended a line of
credit to them, Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants can elect
not to preposition funds and allow that credit line to be drawn upon the
finance settlement. Under this procedure, Clearstream Participants or
Euroclear Participants purchasing Global Securities would incur overdraft
charges for one day, assuming they cleared the overdraft when the Global
Securities were credited to their accounts. However, interest on the Global
Securities would accrue from the value date. Therefore, in many cases the
investment income on the Global Securities earned during that one-day period
may substantially reduce or offset the amount of overdraft charges, although
this result will depend on each Clearstream Participant's or Euroclear
Participant's particular cost of funds.
Since the settlement is taking place during New York business hours,
DTC Participants can employ their usual procedures for sending Global
Securities to the respective European Depositary for the benefit of
Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants. The sale proceeds will be
available to the DTC seller on the settlement date. Thus, to the DTC
Participants a cross-market transaction will settle no differently than a
trade between two DTC Participants.
Trading between Clearstream or Euroclear Seller and DTC Purchaser.
Due to time zone differences in their favor, Clearstream Participants and
Euroclear Participants may employ their customary procedures for transactions
in which Global Securities are to be transferred by the respective clearing
system, through the respective Depositary, to a DTC Participant. The seller
will send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear through a Clearstream
Participant or Euroclear Participant at least one business day prior to
settlement. In these cases Clearstream or Euroclear will instruct the
respective Depositary, as appropriate, to deliver the Global Securities to the
DTC Participant's account against payment. Payment will include interest
accrued on the Global Securities from and including the last interest payment
to and excluding the settlement date on the basis of either the actual number
of days in the accrual period and a year assumed to consist of 360 days or a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months as applicable to the related class of
Global Securities. For transactions settling on the 31st of the month, payment
will include interest accrued to and excluding the first day of the following
month. The payment will then be reflected in the account of the Clearstream
Participant or Euroclear Participant the following day, and receipt of the
cash proceeds in the Clearstream Participant's or Euroclear Participant's
account would be back-valued to the value date (which would be the preceding
day, when settlement occurred in New York). Should the Clearstream Participant
or Euroclear Participant have a line of credit with its respective clearing
system and elect to be in debt in anticipation of receipt of the sale proceeds
in its account, the back-valuation will extinguish any overdraft incurred over
that one day period. If settlement is not completed on the intended value date
(that is, the trade fails), receipt of the cash proceeds in the Clearstream
Participant's or Euroclear Participant's account would instead be valued as of
the actual settlement date.
Finally, day traders that use Clearstream or Euroclear and that
purchase Global Securities from DTC Participants for delivery to Clearstream
Participants or Euroclear Participants should note that these trades would
automatically fail on the sale side unless affirmative action were taken. At
least three techniques should be readily available to eliminate this potential
problem:
o borrowing through Clearstream or Euroclear for one day (until
the purchase side of the day trade is reflected in their
Clearstream or Euroclear accounts) in accordance with the
clearing system's customary procedures;
o borrowing the Global Securities in the U.S. from a DTC
Participant no later than one day prior to the settlement, which
would give the Global Securities sufficient time to be reflected
in their Clearstream or Euroclear account in order to settle the
sale side of the trade; or
o staggering the value dates for the buy and sell sides of the
trade so that the value date for the purchase from the DTC
Participant is at least one day prior to the value date for the
sale to the Clearstream or Euroclear Participant.
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Documentation Requirements
A beneficial owner of Global Securities holding securities through
Clearstream or Euroclear (or through DTC if the holder has an address outside
the U.S.) will be subject to the 30% U.S. withholding tax that generally
applies to payments of interest (including original issue discount) on
registered debt issued by U.S. Persons, unless (1) each clearing system, bank
or other financial institution that holds customers' securities in the
ordinary course of its trade or business in the chain of intermediaries
between the beneficial owner and the U.S. entity required to withhold tax
complies with applicable certification requirements and (2) the beneficial
owner takes one of the following steps to obtain an exemption or reduced tax
rate:
Exemption for non-U.S. Persons (Form W-8). Beneficial owners of
Global Securities that are non-U.S. Persons can obtain a complete exemption
from the withholding tax by filing a signed Form W-8 (Certificate of Foreign
Status). If the information shown on Form W-8 changes, a new Form W-8 must be
filed within 30 days of the change.
Exemption for non-U.S. Persons with effectively connected income
(Form 4224). A non-U.S. Person, including a non-U.S. corporation or bank with
a U.S. branch, for which the interest income is effectively connected with its
conduct of a trade or business in the United States, can obtain an exemption
from the withholding tax by filing Form 4224 (Exemption from Withholding of
Tax on Income Effectively Connected with the Conduct of a Trade or Business in
the United States).
Exemption Or Reduced Rate For Non-U.S. Persons Resident In Treaty
Countries (Form 1001). Non-U.S. Persons that are Beneficial Owners residing in
a country that has a tax treaty with the United States can obtain an exemption
or reduced tax rate (depending on the treaty terms) by filing Form 1001
(Ownership, Exemption or Reduced Rate Certificate). If the treaty provides
only for a reduced rate, withholding tax will be imposed at that rate unless
the filer alternatively files Form W-8. Form 1001 may be filed by the
Certificate Owner or his agent.
Exemption for U.S. Persons (Form W-9). U.S. Persons can obtain a
complete exemption from the withholding tax by filing Form W-9 (Payer's
Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification).
U.S. Federal Income Tax Reporting Procedure. The Certificate Owner of
a Global Security or, in the case of a Form 1001 or a Form 4224 filer, his
agent, files by submitting the appropriate form to the person through whom it
holds (the clearing agency, in the case of persons holding directly on the
books of the clearing agency). Form W-8 and Form 1001 are effective for three
calendar years and Form 4224 is effective for one calendar year.
The term "U.S. Person" means (1) a citizen or resident of the United
States, (2) a corporation or partnership organized in or under the laws of the
United States or any state or the District of Columbia (other than a
partnership that is not treated as a United States person under any applicable
Treasury regulations), (3) an estate the income of which is includible in
gross income for United States tax purposes, regardless of its source, or (4)
a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary
supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States
persons have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, to the extent provided in regulations,
certain trusts in existence on August 20, 1996 and treated as United States
persons prior to that date that elect to continue to be so treated also will
be considered U.S. Persons. This summary does not deal with all aspects of
U.S. Federal income tax withholding that may be relevant to foreign holders of
the Global Securities. Investors are advised to consult their own tax advisors
for specific tax advice concerning their holding and disposing of the Global
Securities.
<PAGE>
$[ ]
(Approximate)
Structured Asset Securities Corporation
[ ] Trust [ ]
Asset-Backed Notes
[ ]
[Servicer/Master Servicer]
_______________
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
[ ]
_______________
LEHMAN BROTHERS
<PAGE>
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may
not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an
offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these
securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, May [ ], 2000
PROSPECTUS
STRUCTURED ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION
Depositor
Asset-Backed Certificates
Asset-Backed Notes
(Issuable in Series)
Each Trust Fund:
o may periodically issue asset-backed pass-through certificates or
asset backed notes, in each case in one or more series with one or
more classes; and
o will be established to hold assets transferred to it by Structured
Asset Securities Corporation, including:
o mortgage loans or participation interests in mortgage loans,
including manufactured home loans;
o mortgage backed certificates insured or guaranteed by Fannie
Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae; and/or
o private mortgage backed certificates, as described in this
prospectus; and
o payments due on those mortgage loans and mortgage backed
certificates.
The assets in your trust fund will be specified in the prospectus
supplement for your trust fund, while the types of assets that may be included
in a trust fund, whether or not included in your trust fund, are described in
greater detail in this prospectus. The Securities:
o will be offered for sale pursuant to a prospectus supplement;
o will evidence beneficial ownership of, or be secured by, the assets
in the related trust fund and will be paid only from the trust fund
assets described in this prospectus; and
o may have one or more forms of credit enhancement.
The securityholders will receive distributions of principal and
interest that are dependent upon the rate of payments, including prepayments,
on the mortgage loans, mortgage backed certificates and other assets in the
trust fund.
The prospectus supplement will state whether the securities are
expected to be classified as indebtedness and whether the trust will make a
REMIC or FASIT election for federal income tax purposes.
The Attorney General of the State of New York has not passed on or
endorsed the merits of this offering. Any representation to the contrary is
unlawful.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved these securities or determined that this
prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
LEHMAN BROTHERS
The date of this prospectus is May [ ], 2000
<PAGE>
Description of the Securities
General
The asset-backed certificates (the "Certificates") of each series
(including any class of certificates not offered hereby) will represent the
entire beneficial ownership interest in the trust fund created pursuant to the
related Agreement (as defined herein). A series of Securities may also include
asset-backed notes (the "Notes," and together with the Certificates, the
"Securities") that will represent indebtedness of the related trust fund and
will be issued pursuant to an indenture. See "The Agreements."
Each series of Securities will consist of one or more classes of
Securities, one or more of that may:
o accrue interest based on a variable or adjustable rate ("Floating Rate
Securities");
o provide for the accrual of interest, which is periodically added to
the principal balance of the Securities, but on which no interest or
principal is payable except during any periods specified in the
prospectus supplement ("Compound Interest Securities");
o be entitled to a greater percentage of interest on the Loans
underlying or comprising the Primary Assets for the series than the
percentage of principal on the Loans to which the Securities are
entitled ("Interest Weighted Securities");
o be entitled to a greater percentage of principal on the Loans
underlying or comprising the Primary Assets for the series than the
percentage of interest on the Loans to which the Securities are
entitled ("Principal Weighted Securities");
o not be entitled to principal until the earlier of the date specified
in the prospectus supplement or the date on which the principal of all
Securities of the series having an earlier Final Scheduled
Distribution Date have been paid in full ("Planned Amortization
Certificates" or "PACs");
o be subordinate to one or more other classes of Securities in respect
of receiving distributions of principal and interest, to the extent
and under the circumstances specified in the prospectus supplement
("Subordinate Securities"); and/or
o other types of Securities, as described in the prospectus supplement.
If specified in the prospectus supplement, distributions on one or more
classes of a series of Securities may be limited to collections from a
designated portion of the assets in the related trust fund (each portion of
Assets, an "Asset Group").
Each class of Securities offered by this prospectus and the prospectus
supplement (the "Offered Securities") will be issued in the minimum original
principal amount or notional amount for Securities of each class specified in
the prospectus supplement. The transfer of any Offered Securities may be
registered, and those Securities may be exchanged, without the payment of any
service charge. The classes of Securities of a series may be issued in fully
registered, certificated form ("Definitive Securities") or issued in
book-entry form only ("Book-Entry Securities") in specified minimum
denominations and integral multiples thereof, as provided in the prospectus
supplement. See "-- Book-Entry Registration."
Distributions on the Securities
General
Distributions on the Securities of each series will be made by or on
behalf of the trustee from the Available Distribution Amount for that series,
on each Distribution Date, as specified in the prospectus supplement.
Distributions (other than the final distribution) will be made to the persons
in whose names the Securities are registered on the close of business on the
record date specified in the prospectus supplement. Payments will be made by
check mailed to the registered owners at their addresses appearing on the
Security Register, or by wire transfer (at the expense of the securityholder
requesting payment by wire transfer) in certain circumstances described in the
prospectus supplement; provided, however, that the final distribution in
retirement of a Security will be made only upon presentation and surrender of
the Security at the corporate trust office of the trustee or as otherwise
specified in the prospectus supplement. Advance notice of the final
distribution on a Security will be mailed to the securityholders.
Distributions of interest on Securities entitled to receive interest will
be made periodically at the intervals and Interest Rates specified or
determined in accordance with the prospectus supplement. Interest on the
Securities will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of
twelve 30-day months, unless the prospectus supplement specifies a different
basis. Distributions of principal on each class of Securities in a series will
be made on a pro rata or random lot basis among all of the Securities of the
class, or as otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement.
The funds in the Distribution Account (together with any amounts
transferred from any Reserve Fund or applicable credit support) may be
insufficient to make the full distribution to securityholders on a
Distribution Date. In this case, the funds available for distribution to the
securityholders of each class will be distributed in accordance with their
respective interests. However, as described in the prospectus supplement,
holders of Securities will receive their current distributions and past
amounts due but unpaid to them before holders of Subordinate Securities are
paid (in each case, these amounts are calculated as described in the
prospectus supplement). The difference between the amount that the
securityholders would have received if there had been sufficient eligible
funds available for distribution and the amount actually distributed will be
included in the calculation of the amount that the securityholders are
entitled to receive on the next Distribution Date.
For a description of the reports to be furnished to securityholders
concerning a distribution, see "The Agreements -- Reports to Securityholders."
Single Class Securities Generally
With respect to a series of Securities that is not a Multi-Class Series,
distributions on the Securities on each Distribution Date will generally be
allocated to each Security entitled to payment on the basis of the undivided
percentage interest (the "Percentage Interest") evidenced by the Security, or
on the basis of the Security's outstanding principal amount or notional amount
(subject to any subordination of the rights of any classes of Subordinate
Securities to receive current distributions), as specified in the prospectus
supplement. See "Subordinate Securities" below.
If the Primary Assets for a series of Securities have adjustable or
variable interest rates, then the rate at which interest accrues on the
principal balance of the Securities or on a class in the series (the "Interest
Rate") may also vary, due to changes in prevailing interest rates and due to
prepayments on Loans comprising or underlying the Primary Assets. If the
Primary Assets for a series have fixed interest rates, then the Interest Rate
on Securities of a series may be fixed, or may vary, to the extent prepayments
cause changes in the weighted average interest rate of the Primary Assets. If
the Primary Assets have lifetime or periodic adjustment caps on their
respective rates, then the Interest Rate on the Securities of the related
series may also reflect those caps.
If specified in the prospectus supplement, a series of Securities may
include one or more classes that are Interest Weighted Securities, Principal
Weighted Securities, or both. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus
supplement, payments received from the Primary Assets will be allocated on the
basis of the Percentage Interest of each class in the principal component of
the distributions, the interest component of the distributions, or both, and
will be further allocated on a pro rata basis among the Securities within each
class. The method or formula for determining the Percentage Interest of a
Security will be set forth in the prospectus supplement.
Multi-Class Series
A series of Securities may include Floating Rate Securities, Compound
Interest Securities and Planned Amortization Certificates, and/or classes of
Subordinate Securities and Senior Securities (a "Multi-Class Series"). For a
series of Securities that is not a Multi-Class Series, each class is
designated to receive a particular portion of future principal or interest
cash flows on the Primary Assets. This designation does not change over the
term of the Securities unless the series has a subordination feature in one or
more classes of Subordinate Securities that protects one or more classes of
Senior Securities in the event of failure of timely payment of the Primary
Assets. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, each Security
of a Multi-Class Series will have a principal amount or a notional amount and
a specified Interest Rate (that may be zero). Interest distributions on a
Multi-Class Series will be made on each Security entitled to an interest
distribution on each Distribution Date at the Interest Rate specified in or
determined in accordance with the prospectus supplement, to the extent funds
are available in the Distribution Account, subject to any subordination of the
rights of any classes of Subordinate Securities to receive current
distributions. See "Subordinate Securities" below and "Credit Support --
Subordinate Securities; Subordination Reserve Fund."
Distributions of interest on Compound Interest Securities will begin only
after the related accretion termination date specified in the prospectus
supplement. On each Distribution Date on or before the accretion termination
date, interest on the Compound Interest Securities accrues, and the amount of
interest accrued is added on each Distribution Date to the principal balance
of the Security. On each Distribution Date after the accretion termination
date, interest distributions will be made on classes of Compound Interest
Securities on the basis of the current Compound Value of the class. The
"Compound Value" of a class of Compound Interest Securities equals the initial
aggregate principal balance of the class, plus accrued and undistributed
interest added to the class through the immediately preceding Distribution
Date, less any principal distributions previously made to reduce the aggregate
outstanding principal balance of the class.
A Multi-Class Series may also include one or more classes of Floating
Rate Securities. The Interest Rate of a Floating Rate Security will be a
variable or adjustable rate, which may be subject to a maximum floating rate,
a minimum floating rate, or both, as specified in the prospectus supplement.
For each class of Floating Rate Securities, the prospectus supplement will set
forth the initial Floating Rate (or the method of determining it), the period
during which the Floating Rate applies, and the formula, index, or other
method by which the Floating Rate for each period will be determined.
Distributions of principal will be allocated among the classes of a
Multi-Class Series in the order of priority and amount specified in the
prospectus supplement. Generally, the "Principal Distribution Amount" for a
Multi-Class Series on any Distribution Date will be equal to the sum of (1)
the accrual distribution amount for any Compound Interest Securities, (2) the
Minimum Principal Distribution Amount and (3) the percentage, if any, of the
excess cash flow specified in the prospectus supplement. The "Minimum
Principal Distribution Amount" is the amount, if any, by which the outstanding
principal balance of the Securities of a series (before giving effect to any
payment of principal on that Distribution Date) exceeds the aggregate value of
the Primary Assets as of that Distribution Date
Subordinate Securities
A series of Securities may include one or more classes of Subordinate
Securities that provide some or all of the credit support for the Senior
Securities in the series. The rights of holders of some classes of securities
(the "Subordinate Securities") to receive distributions will be subordinate in
right and priority to the rights of holders of senior securities of the series
(the "Senior Securities") but only to the extent described in the prospectus
supplement. If the Primary Assets are divided into separate Asset Groups,
evidenced by separate classes, credit support may be provided by a
cross-support feature. This feature requires that distributions be made to
Senior Securities prior to making distributions on Subordinate Securities
backed by assets in another Asset Group within the trust fund. Unless rated in
one of the four highest rating categories by at least one nationally
recognized statistical rating organization (each, a "Rating Agency"),
Subordinate Securities will not be offered by this prospectus or the
prospectus supplement. See "Credit Support -- Subordinate Securities;
Subordination Reserve Fund."
Optional Termination
If specified in the prospectus supplement for a series of Securities, the
depositor, the servicer or master servicer, or any other designated entity
may, at its option, purchase or direct the sale of a portion of the Primary
Assets of the trust fund, or cause an early termination of the trust fund by
repurchasing all of the Primary Assets from the trust fund or directing the
sale of the Primary Assets. This termination may occur on a date on or after
the date on which either (1) the Aggregate Asset Principal Balance of the
Primary Assets is less than a specified percentage of the initial Aggregate
Asset Principal Balance, or (2) the aggregate principal amount of the
Securities (or of certain classes in a series) is less than a specified
percentage of their initial aggregate principal amount, as described in the
prospectus supplement.
o "Asset Principal Balance" means, for any Loan at the time of
determination, its outstanding principal balance as of the Cut-off
Date, reduced by all amounts distributed to securityholders (or used
to fund the Subordination Reserve Fund, if any) and reported as
allocable to principal payments on the Loan.
o "Aggregate Asset Principal Balance" means, at the time of
determination, the aggregate of the Asset Principal Balances of all
the Loans in a trust fund.
The optional termination described in this section will be in addition to
terminations that may result from other events. See "The Agreements -- Event
of Default; Rights Upon Event of Default" and "-- Termination."
Optional Purchase of Securities
The prospectus supplement for a series of Securities may provide that one
or more classes of the series may be purchased, in whole or in part, at the
option of the depositor, the servicer or master servicer, or another
designated entity, at specified times and purchase prices, and under
particular circumstances. Notice of any purchase must be given by the trustee
prior to the optional purchase date, as specified in the prospectus
supplement.
Other Purchases
If specified in the prospectus supplement for a series, any class of
Securities in the series may be subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at
the request of the holders of that class or mandatory purchase by the
depositor, the servicer or master servicer, or another designated entity. The
terms and conditions of any redemption or mandatory purchase with respect to a
class of Securities will be described in the prospectus supplement.
The depositor may also have the option to obtain for any series of
Securities, one or more guarantees from a company or companies acceptable to
the Rating Agencies. As specified in the prospectus supplement, these
guarantees may provide for one or more of the following for any series of
Securities:
o call protection for any class of Securities of a series;
o a guarantee of a certain prepayment rate of some or all of the Loans
underlying the series; or
o certain other guarantees described in the prospectus supplement.
Book-Entry Registration
General
If provided for in the prospectus supplement, one or more classes of the
Offered Securities of any series will be issued as Book-Entry Securities, and
each of these classes will be represented by one or more single Securities
registered in the name of a nominee for the depository, The Depository Trust
Company ("DTC") and, if provided in the prospectus supplement, additionally
through Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme (formerly Cedelbank) (referred to
herein as "Clearstream") or the Euroclear System ("Euroclear") . Each class of
Book-Entry Securities will be issued in one or more certificates or notes, as
the case may be, that equal the initial principal amount of the related class
of Offered Securities and will initially be registered in the name of Cede &
Co.
No person acquiring an interest in a Book-Entry Security (each, a
"Beneficial Owner") will be entitled to receive a Definitive Security, except
as set forth below under "--Definitive Securities." Unless and until
Definitive Securities are issued for the Book-Entry Securities under the
limited circumstances described in the related prospectus supplement or this
prospectus, all references to actions by securityholders with respect to the
Book-Entry Securities will refer to actions taken by DTC, Clearstream or
Euroclear upon instructions from their Participants (as defined below), and
all references herein to distributions, notices, reports and statements to
securityholders with respect to the Book-Entry Securities will refer to
distributions, notices, reports and statements to DTC, Clearstream or
Euroclear, as applicable, for distribution to Beneficial Owners by DTC in
accordance with the procedures of DTC and if applicable, Clearstream and
Euroclear.
Beneficial Owners will hold their Book-Entry Securities through DTC in
the United States, or, if the Offered Securities are offered for sale
globally, through Clearstream or Euroclear in Europe if they are participating
organizations ("Participants") of those systems. Participants include
securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing
corporations and may include some other organizations. Indirect access to the
DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear systems also is available to others, such as
banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a
custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly
("Indirect Participants").
DTC
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the
State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing
corporation" within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing
agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. DTC was created to hold securities for its
Participants, some of which (and/or their representatives) own DTC, and
facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between its
Participants through electronic book-entry changes in their accounts, thereby
eliminating the need for physical movement of securities. In accordance with
its normal procedures, DTC is expected to record the positions held by each of
its Participants in the Book-Entry Securities, whether held for its own
account or as a nominee for another person. In general, beneficial ownership
of Book-Entry Securities will be subject to the rules, regulations and
procedures governing DTC and its Participants as in effect from time to time.
Clearstream
Clearstream is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a
professional depository. Clearstream holds securities for its Participants and
facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between
its Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its
Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of
certificates. Transactions may be settled in Clearstream in any of 28
currencies, including United States dollars. Clearstream provides to its
Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration,
clearance and settlement of internationally-traded securities and securities
lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several
countries. As a professional depository, Clearstream is subject to regulation
by the Luxembourg Monetary Institute. Participants of Clearstream are
recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters,
securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations
and certain other organizations. Indirect access to Clearstream is also
available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that
clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant of
Clearstream, either directly or indirectly.
Euroclear
Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for its Participants and
to clear and settle transactions between its Participants through simultaneous
electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need
for physical movement of securities and any risk from lack of simultaneous
transfers of securities and cash. Transactions may be settled in any of 35
currencies, including United States dollars. Euroclear includes various other
services, including securities lending and borrowing, and interfaces with
domestic markets in several countries generally similar to the arrangements
for cross-market transfers with DTC described above. Euroclear is operated by
the Brussels, Belgium office of Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York (the
"Euroclear Operator"), under contract with Euroclear Clearance Systems S.C., a
Belgian cooperative corporation (the "Cooperative Corporation"). All
operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear
securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with
the Euroclear Operator, not the Cooperative Corporation. The Cooperative
Corporation establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of its Participants.
Euroclear Participants include banks (including central banks), securities
brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries. Indirect
access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or
maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant of Euroclear, either
directly or indirectly.
The Euroclear Operator is the Belgian branch of a New York banking
corporation that is a member bank of the Federal Reserve System, and is
regulated and examined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
and the New York State Banking Department, as well as the Belgian Banking
Commission.
Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear
Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear
and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System and applicable
Belgian law (collectively, the "Terms and Conditions"). The Terms and
Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear,
withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments
with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held
on a fungible basis without attribution of specific securities to specific
securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and
Conditions only on behalf of its Participants, and has no record of or
relationship with persons holding through Participants of Euroclear.
Clearstream and Euroclear will hold omnibus positions on behalf of their
Participants through customers' securities accounts in Clearstream's and
Euroclear's names on the books of their respective depositaries which in turn
will hold positions in customers' securities accounts in the depositaries
names on the books of DTC. Citibank will act as depositary for Clearstream and
The Chase Manhattan Bank will act as depositary for Euroclear (individually
the "Relevant Depositary" and collectively, the "European Depositaries").
Beneficial Ownership of Book-Entry Securities
Except as described below, no Beneficial Owner will be entitled to
receive a physical certificate representing a Certificate or a Note. Unless
and until Definitive Securities are issued, it is anticipated that the only
"securityholder" of the Offered Securities will be Cede & Co., as nominee of
DTC. Beneficial Owners will not be "Certificateholders" or "Noteholders" as
those terms are used in the related Agreement. Beneficial Owners are only
permitted to exercise their rights indirectly through Participants, DTC,
Clearstream or Euroclear, as applicable.
The Beneficial Owner's ownership of a Book-Entry Security will be
recorded on the records of the brokerage firm, bank, thrift institution or
other financial intermediary (each, a "Financial Intermediary") that maintains
the Beneficial Owner's account for that purpose. In turn, the Financial
Intermediary's ownership of a Book-Entry Security will be recorded on the
records of DTC (or of a Participant that acts as agent for the Financial
Intermediary, whose interest will in turn be recorded on the records of DTC,
if the Beneficial Owner's Financial Intermediary is not a Participant of DTC
and on the records of Clearstream or Euroclear, as appropriate).
Beneficial Owners will receive all distributions of principal of, and
interest on, the Offered Securities from the trustee through DTC and its
Participants. While the Offered Securities are outstanding (except under the
circumstances described below), under the rules, regulations and procedures
creating and affecting DTC and its operations (the "Rules"), DTC is required
to make book-entry transfers among Participants on whose behalf it acts with
respect to the Offered Securities and is required to receive and transmit
distributions of principal of, and interest on, the Offered Securities.
Participants and Indirect Participants with whom Beneficial Owners have
accounts with respect to Offered Securities are similarly required to make
book-entry transfers and receive and transmit distributions on behalf of their
respective Beneficial Owners. Accordingly, although Beneficial Owners will not
possess certificates or notes, the Rules provide a mechanism by which
Beneficial Owners will receive distributions and will be able to transfer
their interest.
Beneficial Owners will not receive or be entitled to receive certificates
or notes representing their respective interests in the Offered Securities,
except under the limited circumstances described below. Unless and until
Definitive Securities are issued, Beneficial Owners who are not Participants
may transfer ownership of Offered Securities only through Participants and
Indirect Participants by instructing the Participants and Indirect
Participants to transfer Offered Securities, by book-entry transfer, through
DTC for the account of the purchasers of the Offered Securities, which account
is maintained with their respective Participants. Under the Rules and in
accordance with DTC's normal procedures, transfer of ownership of Book-Entry
Securities will be executed through DTC and the accounts of the respective
Participants at DTC will be debited and credited. Similarly, the Participants
and Indirect Participants will make debits or credits, as the case may be, on
their records on behalf of the selling and purchasing Beneficial Owners.
Because of time zone differences, any credits of securities received in
Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a Participant will
be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the
business day following the DTC settlement date. These credits or any
transactions in securities settled during this processing will be reported to
the relevant Participants of Clearstream or Euroclear on that business day.
Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of securities
by or through a Participant of Clearstream or Euroclear to a Participant of
DTC will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be
available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the
business day following settlement in DTC. For information with respect to tax
documentation procedures relating to the Securities, see "Material Federal
Income Tax Considerations -- REMICs -- Taxation of Certain Foreign Investors,"
"-- Grantor Trust Funds -- Taxation of Certain Foreign Investors" and "--
Partnership Trust Funds and Debt Securities -- Tax Consequences to Foreign
Securityholders" herein and, if the Book-Entry Securities are globally offered
and the prospectus supplement so provides, see "Global Clearance, Settlement
and Tax Documentation Procedures -- Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Documentation Requirements" in Annex I to the prospectus supplement.
Transfers between Participants of DTC will occur in accordance with DTC
Rules. Transfers between Participants of Clearstream or Euroclear will occur
in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.
Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly
through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Participants
of Clearstream or Euroclear, on the other, will be effected in DTC in
accordance with the DTC Rules on behalf of the relevant European international
clearing system by the Relevant Depositary; however, cross-market transactions
will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international
clearing system by the counterparty in that system in accordance with its
rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The
relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets
its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to the Relevant Depositary
to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or
receiving securities in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance
with normal procedures for same day funds settlement applicable to DTC.
Participants of Clearstream or Euroclear may not deliver instructions directly
to the European Depositaries.
Distributions on the Book-Entry Securities will be made on each
Distribution Date by the trustee to DTC. DTC will be responsible for crediting
the amount of each distribution to the accounts of the applicable Participants
of DTC in accordance with DTC's normal procedures. Each Participant of DTC
will be responsible for disbursing the distribution to the Beneficial Owners
of the Book-Entry Securities that it represents and to each Financial
Intermediary for which it acts as agent. Each Financial Intermediary will be
responsible for disbursing funds to the Beneficial Owners of the Book-Entry
Securities that it represents.
Under a book-entry format, Beneficial Owners of the Book-Entry Securities
may experience some delay in their receipt of payments, because the
distributions will be forwarded by the trustee to Cede & Co. Any distributions
on Securities held through Clearstream or Euroclear will be credited to the
cash accounts of Participants of Clearstream or Euroclear in accordance with
the relevant system's rules and procedures, to the extent received by the
Relevant Depositary. These distributions will be subject to tax reporting in
accordance with relevant United States tax laws and regulations. See "Material
Federal Income Tax Considerations -- REMICs -- Taxation of Certain Foreign
Investors," -- "Grantor Trust Funds -- Taxation of Certain Foreign Investors"
and "-- Partnership Trust Funds and Debt Securities -- Tax Consequences to
Foreign Securityholders" herein. Because DTC can only act on behalf of
Financial Intermediaries, the ability of a Beneficial Owner to pledge
Book-Entry Securities to persons or entities that do not participate in the
depository system, or otherwise take actions in respect of Book-Entry
Securities, may be limited due to the lack of physical securities for the
Book-Entry Securities. In addition, issuance of the Book-Entry Securities in
book-entry form may reduce the liquidity of the securities in the secondary
market since certain potential investors may be unwilling to purchase
Securities for which they cannot obtain physical securities.
Monthly and annual reports will be provided to Cede & Co., as nominee of
DTC, and may be made available by Cede & Co. to Beneficial Owners upon
request, in accordance with the rules, regulations and procedures creating and
affecting the depository, and to the Financial Intermediaries to whose DTC
accounts the Book-Entry Securities of Beneficial Owners are credited.
Generally, DTC will advise the applicable trustee that unless and until
Definitive Securities are issued, DTC will take any action permitted to be
taken by the holders of the Book-Entry Securities under the related Agreement,
only at the direction of one or more Financial Intermediaries to whose DTC
accounts the Book-Entry Securities are credited, to the extent that actions
are taken on behalf of Financial Intermediaries whose holdings include the
Book-Entry Securities. If the Book-Entry Securities are globally offered,
Clearstream or the Euroclear Operator, as the case may be, will take any other
action permitted to be taken by a securityholder under the related Agreement,
on behalf of a Participant of Clearstream or Euroclear only in accordance with
its relevant rules and procedures and subject to the ability of the Relevant
Depositary to effect those actions on its behalf through DTC. DTC may take
actions, at the direction of the related Participants, with respect to some
Offered Securities that conflict with actions taken with respect to other
Offered Securities.
Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing
procedures in order to facilitate transfers of Book-Entry Securities among
Participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation
to perform or continue to perform these procedures and the procedures may be
discontinued at any time.
None of the depositor, any master servicer, any servicer, the trustee,
any securities registrar or paying agent or any of their affiliates will have
any responsibility for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made
on account of beneficial ownership interests of the Book-Entry Securities or
for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those
beneficial ownership interests.
Definitive Securities
Securities initially issued in book-entry form will be issued as
Definitive Securities to Beneficial Owners or their nominees, rather than to
DTC or its nominee only (1) if DTC or the depositor advises the trustee in
writing that DTC is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its
responsibilities as depository for the Securities and the depositor is unable
to locate a qualified successor, (2) if the depositor, at its option, elects
to end the book-entry system through DTC or (3) in accordance with any other
provisions described in the prospectus supplement.
Upon the occurrence of any of the events described in the immediately
preceding paragraph, DTC is required to notify all Participants of the
availability through DTC of Definitive Securities for the Beneficial Owners.
Upon surrender by DTC of the security or securities representing the
Book-Entry Securities, together with instructions for registration, the
trustee will issue (or cause to be issued) to the Beneficial Owners identified
in those instructions the Definitive Securities to which they are entitled,
and thereafter the trustee will recognize the holders of those Definitive
Securities as securityholders under the related Agreement.
Yield, Prepayment and Maturity Considerations
Payment Delays
With respect to any series, a period of time will elapse between receipt
of payments or distributions on the Primary Assets and the Distribution Date
on which the payments or distributions are paid to securityholders. This delay
will effectively reduce the yield that would otherwise be obtained if payments
or distributions were distributed on or near the date of receipt. The
prospectus supplement will set forth an example of the timing of receipts and
the distribution of collections to securityholders, so that the impact of this
delay can be understood.
Principal Prepayments
With respect to a series for which the Primary Assets consist of Loans or
participation interests in Loans, when a Loan prepays in full, the borrower
will generally be required to pay interest on the amount of the prepayment
only to the prepayment date. In addition, the prepayment may not be required
to be paid to securityholders until the month following receipt. The effect of
these provisions is to reduce the aggregate amount of interest that would
otherwise be available for distributions on the Securities. Therefore, the
yield that would be obtained if interest continued to accrue on the Loan until
the principal prepayment is paid to securityholders, is effectively reduced.
To the extent specified in the prospectus supplement, this effect on yield may
be mitigated by, among other things, an adjustment to the servicing fee
otherwise payable to the master servicer or servicer with respect to prepaid
Loans. Further, if the Interest Rate on a class of Securities in a series is
based upon a weighted average of the interest rates on the Loans comprising or
underlying the Primary Assets, interest on these Securities may be paid or
accrued in the future at a rate lower than the initial interest rate, to the
extent that Loans bearing higher rates of interest are prepaid more quickly
than Loans bearing lower rates of interest. See "Servicing of Loans --
Advances and Limitations Thereon."
Timing of Reduction of Principal Amount
A Multi-Class Series may provide that, for purposes of calculating
interest distributions, the principal amount of the Securities is deemed
reduced as of a date prior to the Distribution Date on which principal thereon
is actually distributed. Consequently, the amount of interest accrued during
any interest accrual period, as specified in the prospectus supplement, will
be less than the amount that would have accrued on the actual principal amount
of the Securities outstanding. The effect of these provisions is to produce a
lower yield on the Securities than would be obtained if interest were to
accrue on the Securities on the actual unpaid principal amount of the
Securities to each Distribution Date. The prospectus supplement will specify
the time at which the principal amounts of the Securities are determined or
are deemed reduced for purposes of calculating interest distributions on
Securities of a Multi-Class Series.
Interest or Principal Weighted Securities
If a class of Securities consists of Interest Weighted Securities or
Principal Weighted Securities, a lower rate of principal prepayments than
anticipated will negatively affect yield to investors in Principal Weighted
Securities, and a higher rate of principal prepayments than anticipated will
negatively affect yield to investors in Interest Weighted Securities. The
prospectus supplement will include a table showing the effect of various
levels of prepayment on yields on these types of Securities. The tables will
illustrate the sensitivity of yields to various prepayment rates and will not
purport to predict, or provide information enabling investors to predict,
yields or prepayment rates.
Final Scheduled Distribution Date
The prospectus supplement will specify the Final Scheduled Distribution
Date or Maturity Date for each class of a Multi-Class Series. The Maturity
Date for each class of Notes is the date on which the principal of the class
of Notes will be fully paid. The Final Scheduled Distribution Date for each
class of Certificates is the date on which the entire aggregate principal
balance of the class will be reduced to zero. These calculations will be based
on the assumptions described in the prospectus supplement. Because prepayments
on the Loans underlying or comprising the Primary Assets will be used to make
distributions in reduction of the outstanding principal amount of the
Securities, it is likely that the actual maturity of the class will occur
earlier, and may occur substantially earlier, than its Final Scheduled
Distribution Date. Furthermore, with respect to the Certificates, as a result
of delinquencies, defaults and liquidations of the assets in the trust fund,
the actual final distribution date of any Certificate may occur later than its
Final Scheduled Distribution Date.
Prepayments and Weighted Average Life
Weighted average life refers to the average amount of time that will
elapse from the date of issue of a security until each dollar of the principal
of the security will be repaid to the investor. The weighted average life of
the Securities of a series will be influenced by the rate at which principal
on the Loans comprising or underlying the Primary Assets for the Securities is
paid, which may be in the form of scheduled amortization or prepayments (for
this purpose, the term "prepayment" includes prepayments, in whole or in part,
and liquidations due to default).
The rate of principal prepayments on pools of housing loans is influenced
by a variety of economic, demographic, geographic, legal, tax, social and
other factors. The rate of prepayments of conventional housing loans has
fluctuated significantly. In general, however, if prevailing interest rates
fall significantly below the interest rates on the Loans comprising or
underlying the Primary Assets for a series, those Loans are likely to prepay
at rates higher than if prevailing interest rates remain at or above the
interest rates borne by those Loans. It should be noted that the Loans
comprising or underlying the Primary Assets for a series may have different
interest rates, and the stated pass-through or interest rate of certain
Primary Assets or the Interest Rate on the Securities may be a number of
percentage points less than interest rates on the Loans. In addition, the
weighted average life of the Securities may be affected by the varying
maturities of the Loans comprising or underlying the Primary Assets. If any
Loans comprising or underlying the Primary Assets for a series have actual
terms-to-stated maturity less than those assumed in calculating the Final
Scheduled Distribution Date of the related Securities, one or more classes of
the series may be fully paid prior to their respective stated maturities.
Prepayments on loans are also commonly measured relative to a prepayment
standard or model, such as the Constant Prepayment Rate ("CPR") prepayment
model or the Standard Prepayment Assumption ("SPA") prepayment model, each as
described below.
CPR represents a constant assumed rate of prepayment each month relative
to the then outstanding principal balance of a pool of loans for the life of
the loans. SPA represents an assumed rate of prepayment each month relative to
the then outstanding principal balance of a pool of loans. A prepayment
assumption of 100% of SPA assumes prepayment rates of 0.2% per annum of the
then outstanding principal balance of the loans in the first month of the life
of the loans and an additional 0.2% per annum in each month thereafter until
the thirtieth month. Beginning in the thirtieth month and in each month
thereafter during the life of the loans, 100% of SPA assumes a constant
prepayment rate of 6% per annum each month.
Neither CPR nor SPA nor any other prepayment model or assumption purports
to be a historical description of prepayment experience or a prediction of the
anticipated rate of prepayment of any pool of loans, including the Loans
underlying or comprising the Primary Assets. Thus, it is likely that
prepayment of any Loans comprising or underlying the Primary Assets for any
series will not conform to the FHA Prepayment Experience or to any level of
CPR or SPA.
The prospectus supplement for each Multi-Class Series will describe the
prepayment standard or model used to prepare any illustrative tables setting
forth the weighted average life of each class of that series under a given set
of prepayment assumptions. The prospectus supplement will also describe the
percentage of the initial principal balance of each class of a series that
would be outstanding on specified Distribution Dates for the series based on
the assumptions stated in the prospectus supplement, including assumptions
that prepayments on the Loans comprising or underlying the related Primary
Assets are made at rates corresponding to various percentages of CPR or SPA or
at such other rates specified in the prospectus supplement. These tables and
assumptions are intended to illustrate the sensitivity of weighted average
life of the Securities to various prepayment rates and will not be intended to
predict or to provide information that will enable investors to predict the
actual weighted average life of the Securities or prepayment rates of the
Loans comprising or underlying the related Primary Assets.
Other Factors Affecting Weighted Average Life
Type of Loan
Mortgage Loans secured by multifamily residential rental property or
cooperatively owned multifamily property consisting of five or more dwelling
units ("Multifamily Properties") may have provisions that prevent prepayment
for a number of years and may provide for payments of interest only during a
certain period followed by amortization of principal on the basis of a
schedule extending beyond the maturity of the related Mortgage Loan. ARMs,
Bi-weekly Loans, GEM Loans, GPM Loans or Buy-Down Loans comprising or
underlying the Primary Assets may experience a rate of principal prepayments
that is different from the principal prepayment rate for ARMs, Bi-weekly
Loans, GEM Loans and GPM Loans included in any other mortgage pool or from
Conventional fixed rate Loans or from other adjustable rate or graduated
equity mortgages having different characteristics. There can be no assurance
as to the respective rates of prepayment of these Loans in either stable or
changing interest rate environments.
In the case of a Negatively Amortizing ARM, if interest rates rise
without a simultaneous increase in the related scheduled payment of principal
and interest (the 'Scheduled Payment"), negative amortization may result or
the amount of interest accrued on the Stated Principal Balance thereof may
exceed the amount of interest paid by the mortgagor in any month (such excess,
"Deferred Interest"). However, borrowers may pay amounts in addition to their
Scheduled Payments in order to avoid negative amortization and to increase tax
deductible interest payments.
To the extent that any of Mortgage Loans negatively amortize over their
respective terms, future interest accruals are computed on the higher
outstanding principal balance of the Mortgage Loan and a smaller portion of
the Scheduled Payment is applied to principal than would be required to
amortize the unpaid principal over its remaining term. Accordingly, the
weighted average life of the Mortgage Loans will increase.
In a declining interest rate environment, the portion of each Scheduled
Payment in excess of the scheduled interest and principal due will be applied
to reduce the outstanding principal balance of the related Mortgage Loan,
thereby resulting in accelerated amortization of the ARM. Any such
acceleration in amortization of the principal balance of any Negatively
Amortizing ARM will shorten the weighted average life of the Mortgage Loan.
The application of partial prepayments to reduce the outstanding principal
balance of a Negatively Amortizing ARM will tend to reduce the weighted
average life of the Mortgage Loan and will adversely affect the yield to
holders who purchased their Securities at a premium, if any, and holders of
classes of Interest Weighted Securities. The pooling of Negatively Amortizing
ARMs having Rate Adjustment Dates in different months, together with different
initial interest rates borne by the Loans ("Mortgage Rates"), Lifetime
Mortgage Rate Caps, Minimum Mortgage Rates and stated maturity dates, could
result in some Negatively Amortizing ARMs that comprise or underlie the
Primary Assets experiencing negative amortization while the amortization of
other Negatively Amortizing ARMs may be accelerated.
If the Loans comprising or underlying the Primary Assets for a series
include ARMs that permit the borrower to convert to a long-term fixed interest
rate loan, the master servicer, servicer, or PMBS Servicer, as applicable,
may, if specified in the prospectus supplement, be obligated to repurchase any
Loan so converted. Any such conversion and repurchase would reduce the average
weighted life of the Securities of the related series.
A GEM Loan provides for scheduled annual increases in the borrower's
Scheduled Payment. Because the additional portion of the Scheduled Payment is
applied to reduce the unpaid principal balance of the GEM Loan, the stated
maturity of a GEM Loan will be significantly shorter than the 25 to 30 year
term used as the basis for calculating the installments of principal and
interest applicable until the first adjustment date.
The prepayment experience with respect to Manufactured Home Loans will
generally not correspond to the prepayment experience on other types of
housing loans. Even though some Manufactured Home Loans may be FHA Loans, no
statistics similar to those describing the FHA experience above are available
with respect to Manufactured Home Loans.
In the case of Mortgage Loans that do not require the borrowers to make
payments of principal or interest until the occurrence of certain maturity
events, the Mortgage Loans will generate enough cash to pay interest and
principal on the Securities of the related series only if specified maturity
events occur with sufficient frequency and relative regularity. There can be
no assurance regarding the rate and timing of the occurrence of maturity
events with respect to these Mortgage Loans.
Foreclosures and Payment Plans
The number of foreclosures and the principal amount of the Loans
comprising or underlying the Primary Assets that are foreclosed in relation to
the number of Loans that are repaid in accordance with their terms will affect
the weighted average life of the Loans comprising or underlying the Primary
Assets and that of the related series of Securities. Servicing decisions made
with respect to the Loans, including the use of payment plans prior to a
demand for acceleration and the restructuring of Loans in bankruptcy
proceedings, may also have an impact upon the payment patterns of particular
Loans. In particular, the return to holders of Securities who purchased their
Securities at a premium, if any, and the return on a class of Interest
Weighted Securities may be adversely affected by servicing policies and
decisions relating to foreclosures.
Due on Sale Clauses
The acceleration of repayment as a result of certain transfers of the
real property securing a Mortgage Loan (the "Mortgaged Property") is another
factor affecting prepayment rates, and is a factor that is not reflected in
the FHA experience. While each of the Mortgage Loans included in the FHA
statistics is assumable by a purchaser of the underlying mortgaged property,
the Loans constituting or underlying the Primary Assets may include
"due-on-sale" clauses. Except as otherwise described in the prospectus
supplement for a series, the PMBS Servicer of Loans underlying Private
Mortgage-Backed Securities and the master servicer or the servicer of Loans
constituting the Primary Assets for a series will be required, to the extent
it knows of any conveyance or prospective conveyance of the related residence
by any borrower, to enforce any "due-on-sale" clause applicable to the related
Loan under the circumstances and in the manner it enforces due-on-sale clauses
with respect to other similar loans in its portfolio. FHA Loans and VA Loans
are not permitted to contain "due-on-sale" clauses and are freely assumable by
qualified persons. However, as homeowners move or default on their housing
loans, the Mortgaged Property is generally sold and the loans prepaid, even
though, by their terms, the loans are not "due-on-sale" and could have been
assumed by new buyers.
Optional Termination
If specified in the prospectus supplement, any designated entity may
cause an early termination of the trust fund by repurchasing the remaining
Primary Assets in the Trust Fund, or may purchase Securities of certain
classes. See "Description of the Securities -- Optional Termination."
The Trust Funds
General
The Notes will be secured by a pledge of the assets of the trust fund, or
an individual Asset Group, and the Certificates will represent beneficial
ownership interests in the assets of the trust fund, or an individual Asset
Group, each as specified in the prospectus supplement. The Securities will be
non-recourse obligations of the trust fund. Holders of the Notes may only
proceed against the assets of the trust fund as collateral in the case of a
default, and then only to the extent provided in the indenture, and may not
proceed against any assets of the depositor or its affiliates, or assets of
the trust fund not pledged to secure the Notes.
The trust fund for each series of Securities will be held by the trustee
for the benefit of the related securityholders, and will consist of:
o amounts due and payable with respect to the Primary Assets as of the
cut-off date designated in the prospectus supplement (the "Cut-off
Date");
o amounts held from time to time in the Collection Account and the
Distribution Account established for a series of Securities;
o Mortgaged Properties that secured a Mortgage Loan and that are
acquired on behalf of the securityholders by foreclosure, deed in lieu
of foreclosure or repossession;
o any Reserve Fund established pursuant to the Agreement for a series of
Securities, if specified in the prospectus supplement;
o any Servicing Agreements relating to Mortgage Loans in the trust fund,
to the extent that these agreements are assigned to the trustee;
o any primary mortgage insurance policies, FHA insurance, or VA
guarantee relating to Mortgage Loans in the trust fund;
o any pool insurance policy, special hazard insurance policy, bankruptcy
bond or other credit support relating to the series;
o investments held in any fund or account or any guaranteed investment
contract and income from the reinvestment of these funds, if specified
in the prospectus supplement; and
o any other asset, instrument or agreement relating to the trust fund
and specified in the prospectus supplement (which may include an
interest rate swap agreement or an interest rate cap agreement or
similar agreement).
The prospectus supplement may specify that a certain amount or percentage
of a Primary Asset will not be sold by the depositor or seller of the Primary
Asset, but will be retained by that party (the "Retained Interest").
Therefore, amounts received with respect to a Retained Interest in an Agency
Certificate, a Private Mortgage-Backed Security or a Loan comprising the
Primary Assets for a series will not be included in the trust fund but will be
payable to the seller of the respective asset, or to the master servicer (if
any), servicer, depositor or another party, free and clear of the interest of
securityholders under the Agreements.
The "Primary Assets" in the trust fund for a series of Securities may
consist of any combination of the following, to the extent and as specified in
the prospectus supplement:
o Ginnie Mae certificates (which may be Ginnie Mae I certificates or
Ginnie Mae II certificates);
o Fannie Mae certificates;
o Freddie Mac certificates;
o mortgage pass-through certificates representing a fractional,
undivided interest in Loans or collateralized mortgage obligations
secured by Loans ("Private Mortgage-Backed Securities");
o Mortgage Loans or participation interests in Mortgage Loans; and
o Manufactured Home Loans or participation interests in Manufactured
Home Loans.
Mortgage Loans and Manufactured Home Loans are referred to in this
prospectus as "Loans." Ginnie Mae certificates, Fannie Mae certificates and
Freddie Mac certificates are referred to in this prospectus as "Agency
Certificates."
Private Mortgage-Backed Securities will evidence a beneficial ownership
interest in underlying assets that will consist of Agency Certificates or
Loans. Participation interests in a Loan or a loan pool will be purchased by
the depositor, or an affiliate, pursuant to a participation agreement (a
"Participation Agreement"). The interest acquired by the depositor under the
Participation Agreement will be evidenced by a participation certificate. The
trustee will be the holder of a participation certificate. Loans that comprise
the Primary Assets will be purchased by the depositor directly or through an
affiliate in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Some,
none or all of the Loans may have been originated by an affiliate of the
depositor. See "The Agreements -- Assignment of Primary Assets."
Ginnie Mae Certificates
General
The Ginnie Mae certificates will be "fully modified pass-through"
mortgage-backed certificates issued and serviced by Ginnie Mae-approved
issuers of Ginnie Mae certificates (the "Ginnie Mae Servicers") under the
Ginnie Mae I and/or the Ginnie Mae II program. The full and timely payment of
principal of and interest on the Ginnie Mae certificates is guaranteed by
Ginnie Mae, which obligation is backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States of America. The Ginnie Mae certificates will be based on and
backed by a pool of eligible mortgage loans and will provide for the payment
by or on behalf of the Ginnie Mae Servicer to the registered holder of the
Ginnie Mae certificate of monthly payments of principal and interest equal to
the aggregated amount of the monthly constant principal and interest payments
on each mortgage loan, less servicing and guarantee fees aggregating the
excess of the interest on the mortgage loans over the Ginnie Mae certificate's
pass-through rate. Each repayment to a holder of a Ginnie Mae certificate will
include pass-through payments of any prepayments of principal of the mortgage
loans underlying the Ginnie Mae certificate and the remaining principal
balance in the event of a foreclosure or other disposition of a mortgage loan.
The Ginnie Mae certificates do not constitute a liability of, or evidence
any recourse against, the Ginnie Mae Servicer, the depositor or any affiliate
of the depositor, and the only recourse of a registered holder, such as the
trustee or its nominee, is to enforce the guarantee of Ginnie Mae.
Ginnie Mae approves the issuance of each Ginnie Mae certificate in
accordance with a guaranty agreement (the "Guaranty Agreement") between Ginnie
Mae and the Ginnie Mae Servicer of the Ginnie Mae certificate. Pursuant to the
Guaranty Agreement, the Ginnie Mae Servicer is required to advance its own
funds in order to make timely payments of all amounts due on the Ginnie Mae
certificate, whether or not the payments received by the Ginnie Mae Servicer
on the underlying mortgage loans equal the amounts due on the Ginnie Mae
certificate. If a Ginnie Mae Servicer is unable to make a payment as it
becomes due, it must promptly notify Ginnie Mae and request Ginnie Mae to make
the payment. Upon notification and request, Ginnie Mae will make payments
directly to the registered holder of the Ginnie Mae certificate. In the event
no payment is made by a Ginnie Mae Servicer and the Ginnie Mae Servicer fails
to notify and request Ginnie Mae to make a payment, the holder of the Ginnie
Mae certificate has recourse only against Ginnie Mae to obtain the payment.
The trustee or its nominee, as registered holder of the Ginnie Mae
certificates, may proceed directly against Ginnie Mae under the terms of any
Ginnie Mae certificate or the Guaranty Agreement relating to the Ginnie Mae
certificate for any amounts that are not paid under the Ginnie Mae
certificate.
Monthly installment payments on a Ginnie Mae certificate will be
comprised of interest due as specified on the Ginnie Mae certificate plus the
scheduled principal payments on the mortgage loans backing the Ginnie Mae
certificate due on the first day of the month in which the scheduled monthly
installment on the Ginnie Mae certificate is due. The monthly installments on
the Ginnie Mae certificate will be paid each month to the trustee or its
nominee as registered holder. In addition, any principal prepayments or any
other early recovery of principal on the mortgage loans backing the Ginnie Mae
certificate received during any month will be passed through to the registered
holder of the Ginnie Mae certificate the following month.
With respect to Ginnie Mae certificates issued under the Ginnie Mae I
program, the Ginnie Mae Servicer must make scheduled monthly payments of
principal and interest, plus pass-throughs of prepayments of principal and
proceeds of foreclosures and other dispositions of the mortgage loans, to
registered holders no later than the fifteenth day of each month. Ginnie Mae
certificates issued under the Ginnie Mae II program provide for payments to be
mailed to registered holders by Chemical Bank, as paying agent, no later than
the twentieth day of each month. A further difference between the two programs
is that, under the Ginnie Mae I program single issuer approach, an individual
Ginnie Mae issuer assembles a pool of mortgages against which it issues and
markets Ginnie Mae I certificates while, under the Ginnie Mae II program,
multiple issuer pools may be formed through the aggregation of loan packages
of more than one Ginnie Mae issuer. Under this option, packages submitted by
various Ginnie Mae issuers for a particular issue date and interest rate are
aggregated into a single pool that backs a single issue of Ginnie Mae II
certificates. However, single issuer pools may be formed under the Ginnie Mae
II program as well.
The Underlying Mortgage Loans
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, mortgage loans
underlying the Ginnie Mae certificates included in the trust fund for a series
will consist of FHA Loans and/or housing loans partially guaranteed by the VA
("VA Loans"), all of which are assumable by a purchaser. Ginnie Mae
certificates securing a series may be backed by level payment mortgage loans,
Ginnie Mae Loans, GEM Loans or Buy-Down Loans or adjustable rate mortgage
loans or other mortgage loans eligible for inclusion in a Ginnie Mae
certificate. The mortgage loans may be secured by Manufactured Homes, Single
Family Property or Multifamily Property.
All mortgages underlying any Ginnie Mae certificate issued under the
Ginnie Mae I program must have the same annual interest rate (except for pools
of loans secured by manufactured homes). The annual interest rate on such
Ginnie Mae certificate is equal to one-half percentage point less than the
annual interest rate on the mortgage loans backing the Ginnie Mae certificate.
Mortgages underlying a Ginnie Mae certificate issued under the Ginnie Mae
II program may have annual interest rates that vary from each other by up to
one percentage point. The annual interest rate on each Ginnie Mae II
certificate is between one-half percentage point and one and one-half
percentage points less than the highest annual interest rate on the mortgage
loans included in the pool of mortgages backing the Ginnie Mae certificate.
The Ginnie Mae certificates included in the trust fund for a series may
have other characteristics and terms different from those described above, so
long as the Ginnie Mae certificates and underlying mortgage loans meet the
criteria of each Rating Agency rating the Securities of that series. The
Ginnie Mae certificates and underlying mortgage loans will be described in the
prospectus supplement.
Ginnie Mae
The Government National Mortgage Association ("Ginnie Mae") is a wholly
owned corporate instrumentality of the United States of America. Section
306(g) of Title III of the National Housing Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Housing Act") authorizes Ginnie Mae to guarantee the timely payment of the
principal of and the interest on Ginnie Mae certificates, which are based on
and backed by a pool of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing
Administration, a division of HUD ("FHA") under the Housing Act or Title V of
the Housing Act of 1949, or partially guaranteed by the Veterans
Administration ("VA") under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, as
amended, or Chapter 37 of Title 38, United States Code, or by other eligible
mortgage loans.
Section 306(g) of the Housing Act provides that "the full faith and
credit of the United States is pledged to the payment of all amounts that may
be required to be paid under any guaranty under this subsection." To meet its
obligations under the guarantees, Ginnie Mae may, under Section 306(d) of the
Housing Act, borrow from the United States Treasury an amount that is at any
time sufficient to enable Ginnie Mae, with no limitations as to amount, to
perform its obligations under its guarantee.
Fannie Mae Certificates
General
Fannie Mae certificates are either Guaranteed Mortgage Pass-Through
Certificates, Stripped Mortgage Backed Securities or Guaranteed REMIC
Pass-Through Certificates. Fannie Mae certificates represent factional
undivided interests in a pool of mortgage loans formed by Fannie Mae. Unless
otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, each pool consists of
mortgage loans secured by a first lien on a one-to four-family residential
property. Mortgage loans comprising a pool are either provided by Fannie Mae
from its own portfolio or purchased pursuant to the criteria set forth under
the Fannie Mae purchase program.
Fannie Mae guarantees to each holder of a Fannie Mae certificate that it
will distribute amounts representing scheduled principal and interest (at the
rate provided for by the Fannie Mae certificate) on the mortgage loans in the
pool represented by the Fannie Mae certificate, whether or not received, and
the holder's proportionate share of the full principal amount of any
foreclosed or other finally liquidated mortgage loan, whether or not the
principal amount is actually recovered. The obligations of Fannie Mae under
its guarantees are obligations solely of Fannie Mae and are neither backed by
nor entitled to the full faith and credit of the United States of America. If
Fannie Mae were unable to satisfy those obligations, distributions on Fannie
Mae certificates would consist solely of payments and other recoveries on the
underlying mortgage loans and, accordingly, delinquencies and defaults would
affect monthly distributions on the Fannie Mae certificates and could
adversely affect the payments on the Securities of a series secured by the
Fannie Mae certificates.
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, Fannie Mae
certificates evidencing interests in pools formed on or after May 1, 1985
(other than Fannie Mae certificates backed by pools containing GPM Loans or
mortgage loans secured by multifamily projects) will be available in
book-entry form only. Distributions of principal of and interest on each
Fannie Mae certificate will be made by Fannie Mae on the twenty-fifth day of
each month to the persons in whose name the Fannie Mae certificates are
entered in the books of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or registered on
the Fannie Mae certificate register in the case of fully registered Fannie Mae
certificates) as of the close of business on the last day of the preceding
month. With respect to Fannie Mae certificates issued in book-entry form,
distributions will be made by wire; with respect to Fannie Mae certificates
issued in fully registered form, distributions will be made by check.
The Underlying Mortgage Loans
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement for a series of
Securities, mortgage loans underlying Fannie Mae certificates in the trust
fund for a series will consist of:
o fixed-rate level payment mortgage loans that are not insured or
guaranteed by any governmental agency ("Conventional Loans");
o fixed-rate level payment FHA Loans or VA Loans;
o adjustable rate mortgage loans;
o GEM Loans, Buy-Down Loans or GPM Loans; and
o mortgage loans secured by one-to-four family attached or detached
residential housing, including Cooperative Dwellings ("Single Family
Property") or by Multifamily Property.
Each mortgage loan must meet the applicable standards set forth under the
Fannie Mae purchase program. The original maturities of substantially all of
the fixed rate level payment Conventional Mortgage Loans are expected to be
between either eight to 15 years or 20 to 30 years. The original maturities of
substantially all of the fixed rate level payment FHA Loans or VA Loans are
expected to be 30 years.
Fannie Mae Stripped Mortgage Backed Securities are issued by Fannie Mae
in series of two or more classes, with each class representing a specified
undivided fractional interest in principal distributions and/or interest
distributions (adjusted to the series pass-through rate) on the underlying
pool of mortgage loans. The fractional interests of each class in principal
and interest distributions are not identical, but the classes in the aggregate
represent 100% of the principal distributions and interest distributions
(adjusted to the series pass-through rate) on the respective pool. Because of
the difference between the fractional interests in principal and interest of
each class, the effective rate of interest on the principal of each class of
Fannie Mae Stripped Mortgage Backed Securities may be significantly higher or
lower than the series pass-through rate and/or the weighted average interest
rate of the underlying mortgage loans. The Guaranteed REMIC Pass-Through
Certificates are multiple-class pass-through certificates (representing
beneficial interests in a pool consisting primarily of Fannie Mae or Ginnie
Mae certificates) as to which Fannie Mae has elected REMIC status for federal
income tax purposes.
Mortgage loans underlying a Fannie Mae certificate may have annual
interest rates that vary by as much as two percentage points from each other.
The rate of interest payable on a Fannie Mae certificate (and the series
pass-through rate payable with respect to a Fannie Mae Stripped Mortgage
Backed Security) is equal to the lowest interest rate of any mortgage loan in
the related pool, less a specified minimum annual percentage representing
servicing compensation and Fannie Mae's guarantee fee. Under a regular
servicing option (pursuant to which the mortgagee or other servicer assumes
the risk of foreclosure losses), the annual interest rates on the mortgage
loans underlying a Fannie Mae certificate will be between .50 and 2.50
percentage points greater than the annual interest rate for the Fannie Mae
certificate (or the series pass-through rate payable with respect to a Fannie
Mae Stripped Mortgage Backed Security), and, under a special servicing option
(pursuant to which the mortgagee or other servicer is reimbursed by Fannie Mae
for foreclosure losses), the annual interest rates on the mortgage loans
underlying a Fannie Mae certificate will be between .55 and 2.55 percentage
points greater than the annual Fannie Mae certificate interest rate (or the
series pass-through rate payable with respect to a Fannie Mae Stripped
Mortgage Backed Security).
The trust fund for a series of Securities may include Fannie Mae
certificates having characteristics and terms different from those described
above, so long as the Fannie Mae certificates and underlying mortgage loans
meet the criteria of each Rating Agency rating the series. The Fannie Mae
certificates and underlying mortgage loans will be described in the prospectus
supplement.
Fannie Mae
Fannie Mae ("Fannie Mae") is a federally chartered and stockholder-owned
corporation organized and existing under the Federal National Mortgage
Association Charter Act, as amended (12 U.S.C. Section 1716 et seq.). Fannie
Mae was originally established in 1938 as a United States government agency to
provide supplemental liquidity to the mortgage market and was transformed into
a stockholder-owned and privately managed corporation by legislation enacted
in 1968.
Fannie Mae provides funds to the mortgage market primarily by purchasing
home mortgage loans from lenders, thereby replenishing their funds for
additional lending. Fannie Mae acquires funds to purchase loans from any
capital market investors that may not ordinarily invest in mortgage loans,
thereby expanding the total amount of funds available for housing. Operating
nationwide, Fannie Mae helps to redistribute mortgage funds from
capital-surplus to capital-short areas. In addition, Fannie Mae issues
mortgage backed securities, primarily in exchange for pools of mortgage loans
from lenders. See "Additional Information" for the availability of further
information with respect to Fannie Mae and Fannie Mae certificates.
Freddie Mac Certificates
General
The Freddie Mac certificates represent an undivided interest in a group
of mortgages or participations in mortgages (a "PC Pool") purchased by Freddie
Mac. Freddie Mac certificates are sold under the terms of a Mortgage
Participation Certificate Agreement and may be issued under either Freddie
Mac's "Cash Program" or "Guarantor Program" or may be Multiclass Mortgage
Participation Certificates (Guaranteed) representing multiple classes of
certificates of beneficial interest in a pool consisting primarily of Freddie
Mac certificates.
Under Freddie Mac's Cash Program, with respect to PC Pools formed prior
to June 1, 1987 there is no limitation on the amount by which interest rates
on the mortgage loans underlying a Freddie Mac certificate may exceed the
pass-through rate on the Freddie Mac certificate. With respect to Freddie Mac
certificates issued on or after that date, the maximum interest rate on the
mortgage loans underlying the Freddie Mac certificates cannot exceed the
pass-through rate on the Freddie Mac certificates by more than two hundred
basis points.
Under this program, Freddie Mac purchases groups of whole mortgage loans
from a number of sellers at specified percentages of their unpaid principal
balances, adjusted for accrued or prepaid interest, which, when applied to the
interest rate of the mortgage loans and participations purchased, results in
the yield (expressed as a percentage) required by Freddie Mac. The required
yield, which includes a minimum servicing fee retained by the servicer, is
calculated using the outstanding principal balance of the mortgage loans, an
assumed term and a prepayment period as determined by Freddie Mac. No loan or
participation is purchased by Freddie Mac at greater than 100% of the
outstanding principal balance. The range of interest rates on the mortgage
loans and participations in a PC Pool for a Freddie Mac certificate issued
under the Cash Program will vary since mortgage loans and participations are
purchased and assigned to a PC Pool based upon their yield to Freddie Mac
rather than on the interest rate on the underlying mortgage loans. However,
beginning with PC Pools formed on or after June 1, 1987, the range of interest
rates on the mortgages in Cash Program PC Pools will not exceed 100 basis
points.
Under Freddie Mac's Guarantor Program, the pass-through rate on a Freddie
Mac certificate is established based upon the lowest rate on the underlying
mortgage loans, minus a minimum servicing fee and the amount of Freddie Mac's
management and guaranty income as agreed upon between the seller and Freddie
Mac. For Freddie Mac certificate groups formed under the Guarantor Program,
the range between the lowest and highest annual interest rates on the mortgage
loans in a PC Pool may not exceed two hundred basis points, and beginning with
PC Pools formed in December 1987 under the Guarantor Program, the range of the
interest rates on the mortgage loans in a PC Pools will not exceed 100 basis
points.
The Freddie Mac certificates will be guaranteed by Freddie Mac as to the
timely payment of interest at the applicable Freddie Mac certificate rate on
the holder's pro rata share of the unpaid principal balance outstanding on the
underlying mortgage loans, whether or not received. Freddie Mac also
guarantees payment of principal on the underlying mortgage loans, without any
offset or deduction, to the extent of the registered holder's pro rata share
thereof, but does not, except with respect to "Scheduled Principal" Freddie
Mac certificates issued under the Guarantor Program, guarantee the timely
payment of scheduled principal. Under Freddie Mac's Gold PC Program, Freddie
Mac guarantees the timely payment of principal based on the difference between
the pool factor published in the month preceding the month of distribution and
the pool factor published in the month of distribution.
Pursuant to its guarantee, Freddie Mac indemnifies holders of Freddie Mac
certificates against any diminution in principal by reason of charges for
property repairs, maintenance and foreclosure. Freddie Mac may remit the
amount due on account of its guarantee of collection of principal at any time
after default on an underlying mortgage loan, but not later than:
o 30 days following foreclosure sale;
o 30 days following payment of the claim by any mortgage insurer; or
o 30 days following the expiration of any right of redemption.
In any event, Freddie Mac must remit the guarantee amount no later than
one year after demand has been made upon the mortgagor for accelerated payment
of principal. In taking actions regarding the collection of principal after
default on the mortgage loans underlying Freddie Mac certificates, including
the timing of demand for acceleration, Freddie Mac reserves the right to
exercise its judgment with respect to the mortgage loans in the same manner as
for mortgages that Freddie Mac has purchased but not sold. The length of time
necessary for Freddie Mac to determine that a mortgage loan should be
accelerated varies with the particular circumstances of each mortgagor, and
Freddie Mac has not adopted servicing standards that require that the demand
be made within any specified period.
Holders of Freddie Mac certificates are entitled to receive their pro
rata share of all principal payments on the underlying mortgage loans received
by Freddie Mac, including any scheduled principal payments, full and partial
prepayments of principal and principal received by Freddie Mac by virtue of
condemnation, insurance, liquidation or foreclosure, including repayments of
principal resulting from acquisition by Freddie Mac of the real property
securing the mortgage. Freddie Mac is required to remit to each holder its pro
rata share of principal payments on the underlying mortgage loans, interest at
an applicable Freddie Mac certificate rate and any other sums, such as
prepayment fees, within 60 days of the date on which Freddie Mac is deemed to
receive the payments.
Under Freddie Mac's Cash Program, there is no limitation on the amount by
which interest rates on the mortgage loans underlying a Freddie Mac
certificate may exceed the pass-through rate on the Freddie Mac certificate.
Under this program, Freddie Mac purchases groups of whole mortgage loans from
sellers at specified percentages of their unpaid principal balances, adjusted
for accrued or prepaid interest, which when applied to the interest rate of
the mortgage loans and participations purchased results in the yield
(expressed as a percentage) required by Freddie Mac. The required yield, which
includes a minimum servicing fee retained by the servicer, is calculated using
the outstanding principal balance. The range of interest rates on the mortgage
loans and participations in a Freddie Mac certificate group under the Cash
Program will vary since mortgage loans and participations are purchased and
assigned to a Freddie Mac certificate group based upon their yield to Freddie
Mac rather than on the interest rate on the underlying mortgage loans. Under
Freddie Mac's Guarantor Program, the pass-through rate on a Freddie Mac
certificate is established based upon the lowest interest rate on the
underlying mortgage loans, minus a minimum servicing fee and the amount of
Freddie Mac's management and guarantee income as agreed upon between the
seller and Freddie Mac.
Freddie Mac certificates are not guaranteed by, and do not constitute
debts or obligations of, either the United States of America or any Federal
Home Loan Bank. If Freddie Mac were unable to satisfy those obligations,
distributions on Freddie Mac certificates would consist solely of payments and
other recoveries on the underlying mortgage loans, and, accordingly,
delinquencies and defaults would affect monthly distributions on the Freddie
Mac certificates and could adversely affect distributions on the Securities of
the related series.
Requests for registration of ownership of Freddie Mac certificates made
on or before the last business day of a month are made effective as of the
first day of that month. With respect to Freddie Mac certificates sold by
Freddie Mac on or after January 2, 1985, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
maintains book-entry accounts with respect thereto and makes payments of
interest and principal each month to holders in accordance with the holders'
instructions. The first payment to a holder of a Freddie Mac certificate will
normally be received by the holder by the fifteenth day of the second month
following the month in which the holder became a holder of the Freddie Mac
certificate. Thereafter, payments will normally be received by the fifteenth
day of each month.
The Underlying Mortgage Loans
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, each PC Pool
underlying the Freddie Mac certificates in the trust fund for a series will
consist of first lien, fixed-rate, fully amortizing, conventional residential
mortgages or participation interests therein. Unless otherwise specified in
the prospectus supplement, all of the mortgage loans evidenced by a Freddie
Mac certificate are conventional mortgages and therefore do not have the
benefit of any guarantee or insurance by, and are not obligations of, the
United States of America. All mortgages purchased by Freddie Mac must meet
certain standards set forth in the Freddie Mac Act (as defined below).
The trust fund for a series may include Freddie Mac certificates having
other characteristics and terms different from those described above, so long
as the Freddie Mac certificates and the underlying mortgage loans meet the
criteria of each Rating Agency rating the Securities of the series. The
Freddie Mac certificates and underlying mortgage loans will be described in
the prospectus supplement.
Freddie Mac
The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac") is a corporate
instrumentality of the United States of America created pursuant to an Act of
Congress (Title III of the Emergency Home Finance Act of 1970, as amended, 12
U.S.C. 1451-1459) on July 24, 1970 (the "Freddie Mac Act"). Freddie Mac was
established primarily for the purpose of increasing the availability of
mortgage credit for the financing of needed housing. It provides an enhanced
degree of liquidity for residential mortgage investments primarily by
assisting in the development of secondary markets for conventional mortgages.
The principal activity of Freddie Mac consists of the purchase of first lien,
conventional, residential mortgage loans and participation interests in
mortgage loans from mortgage lending institutions and the resale of the whole
loans and participations so purchased in the form of guaranteed mortgage
securities, primarily Freddie Mac certificates. In 1981, Freddie Mac initiated
its Guarantor Program under which Freddie Mac purchases mortgages from sellers
in exchange for Freddie Mac certificates representing interests in the
mortgages so purchased. Transactions under the Guarantor Program have resulted
in a significant increase in the volume of Freddie Mac's purchases of
mortgages and sales of Freddie Mac certificates. All mortgage loans purchased
by Freddie Mac must meet certain standards set forth in the Freddie Mac Act.
Freddie Mac is confined to purchasing, so far as practicable, mortgage loans
that it deems to be of such quality, type and class as to meet generally the
purchase standards imposed by private institutional mortgage investors. See
"Additional Information" for the availability of further information with
respect to Freddie Mac and Freddie Mac certificates.
Private Mortgage-Backed Securities
General
The trust fund for a series may consist of Private Mortgage-Backed
Securities, which include:
o mortgage pass-through certificates, evidencing an undivided interest
in a pool of Loans or Agency Certificates; or
o collateralized mortgage obligations secured by Loans or Agency
Certificates.
Private Mortgage-Backed Securities are issued pursuant to a pooling and
servicing agreement, a trust agreement, an indenture or similar agreement (a
"PMBS Agreement"). The seller/servicer of the underlying Loans, or the issuer
of the collateralized mortgage obligations, as the case may be, enters into
the PMBS Agreement with the trustee under the PMBS Agreement (the "PMBS
Trustee"). The PMBS Trustee or its agent, or a custodian, possesses the Loans
underlying the Private Mortgage-Backed Security. Loans underlying a Private
Mortgage-Backed Security are serviced by a servicer (the "PMBS Servicer")
directly or by one or more sub-servicers who may be subject to the supervision
of the PMBS Servicer. The PMBS Servicer will generally be a Fannie Mae or
Freddie Mac approved servicer and, if FHA Loans underlie the Private
Mortgage-Backed Securities, will be approved by the United States Department
of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") as an FHA mortgagee.
The issuer of the Private Mortgage-Backed Securities (the "PMBS Issuer")
will be a financial institution or other entity engaged generally in the
business of mortgage lending; a public agency or instrumentality of a state,
local or federal government; a limited purpose corporation or other entity
organized for the purpose of, among other things, establishing trusts and
acquiring and selling housing loans to the trusts, and selling beneficial
interests in the trusts; or one of the trusts. If specified in the prospectus
supplement, the PMBS Issuer may be an affiliate of the depositor. The
obligations of the PMBS Issuer will generally be limited to certain
representations and warranties with respect to the assets conveyed by it to
the related trust. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement,
the PMBS Issuer will not have guaranteed any of the assets conveyed to the
related trust or any of the Private Mortgage-Backed Securities issued under
the PMBS Agreement. Additionally, although the Loans underlying the Private
Mortgage-Backed Securities may be guaranteed by an agency or instrumentality
of the United States, the Private Mortgage-Backed Securities themselves will
not be so guaranteed.
Distributions of principal and interest will be made on the Private
Mortgage-Backed Securities on the dates specified in the prospectus
supplement. The Private Mortgage-Backed Securities may be entitled to receive
nominal or no principal distributions or nominal or no interest distributions.
Principal and interest distributions will be made on the Private
Mortgage-Backed Securities by the PMBS Trustee or the PMBS Servicer. The PMBS
Issuer or the PMBS Servicer may have the right to repurchase assets underlying
the Private Mortgage-Backed Securities after a certain date or under other
circumstances specified in the prospectus supplement.
Underlying Loans
The Loans underlying the Private Mortgage-Backed Securities may consist
of fixed rate, level payment, fully amortizing Loans or GEM Loans, GPM Loans,
Buy-Down Loans, Bi-Weekly Loans, ARMs, or Loans having balloon or other
irregular payment features. Loans may be secured by Single Family Property,
Multifamily Property, Manufactured Homes, or, in the case of Cooperative
Loans, by an assignment of the proprietary lease or occupancy agreement
relating to a Cooperative Dwelling and the shares issued by the related
cooperative. Except as otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement:
o no Loan will have had a Loan-to-Value Ratio at origination in excess
of 95%;
o each Mortgage Loan secured by a Single Family Property and having a
Loan-to-Value Ratio in excess of 80% at origination will be covered by
a primary mortgage insurance policy;
o each Loan will have had an original term to stated maturity of not
less than 10 years and not more than 40 years;
o no Loan that was more than 89 days delinquent as to the payment of
principal or interest will have been eligible for inclusion in the
assets under the related PMBS Agreement;
o each Loan (other than a Cooperative Loan) will be required to be
covered by a standard hazard insurance policy (which may be a blanket
policy); and
o each Loan (other than a Cooperative Loan or a Loan secured by a
Manufactured Home) will be covered by a title insurance policy.
Credit Support Relating to Private Mortgage-Backed Securities
Credit support in the form of Reserve Funds, subordination of other
private mortgage certificates issued under the PMBS Agreement, letters of
credit, mortgage insurance, hazard insurance and other insurance policies
("Insurance Policies") required to be maintained with respect to Securities,
Loans, or Private Mortgage-Backed Securities or other types of credit support
may be provided with respect to the Loans underlying the Private
Mortgage-Backed Securities or with respect to the Private Mortgage-Backed
Securities themselves. The type, characteristics and amount of credit support
will depend on certain characteristics of the Loans and other factors and will
have been established for the Private Mortgage-Backed Securities on the basis
of requirements of the Rating Agency.
Additional Information
The prospectus supplement for a series of Securities for which the trust
fund includes Private Mortgage-Backed Securities will specify, to the extent
material:
o the aggregate approximate principal amount and type of the Agency
Certificates and Private Mortgage-Backed Securities to be included in
the trust fund;
o certain characteristics of the Agency Certificates or Loans that
comprise the underlying assets for the Private Mortgage-Backed
Securities including, (1) the payment features of Loans (i.e., whether
they are fixed rate or adjustable rate and whether they provide for
fixed level payments or other payment features), (2) the approximate
aggregate principal balance, if known, of underlying Loans insured or
guaranteed by a governmental entity, (3) the servicing fee or range of
servicing fees with respect to the Loans, and (4) the minimum and
maximum stated maturities of the underlying Loans at origination;
o the interest rate or range of interest rates of the Private
Mortgage-Backed Securities;
o the weighted average interest rate of the Private Mortgage-Backed
Securities;
o the PMBS Issuer, the PMBS Servicer and the PMBS Trustee for the
Private Mortgage-Backed Securities;
o certain characteristics of credit support, if any, such as Reserve
Funds, Insurance Policies, letters of credit or guarantees relating to
the Loans underlying the Private Mortgage-Backed Securities or to the
Private Mortgage-Backed Securities themselves;
o the terms on which the underlying Loans for the Private
Mortgage-Backed Securities may, or are required to, be purchased prior
to their stated maturity or the stated maturity of the Private
Mortgage-Backed Securities; and
o the terms on which Loans may be substituted for those originally
underlying the Private Mortgage-Backed Securities.
If information of the type described above regarding the Private
Mortgage-Backed Securities or Agency Certificates is not known to the
depositor at the time the Securities are initially offered, approximate or
more general information of the nature described above will be provided in the
prospectus supplement and any additional information will be set forth in a
Current Report on Form 8-K to be available to investors on the date of
issuance of the related series and to be filed with the Commission within 15
days after the initial issuance of the Securities.
The Mortgage Loans
General
The Primary Assets in a trust fund for a series of Securities may include
mortgage loans or participation interests in mortgage loans (together,
"Mortgage Loans"). Generally, the originators of the Mortgage Loans are
savings and loan associations, savings banks, commercial banks, credit unions,
insurance companies, or similar institutions supervised and examined by a
Federal or State authority or by mortgagees approved by the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development pursuant to sections 203 and 211 of the National
Housing Act. An affiliate of the depositor may have originated some of the
Mortgage Loans.
The Mortgage Loans in a trust fund may be Conventional Loans, housing
loans insured by the FHA ("FHA Loans") or VA Loans, with the following
interest rate and payment characteristics:
o fixed interest rate or adjustable interest rate Mortgage Loans;
o "GPM Loans," which provide for fixed level payments or graduated
payments, with an amortization schedule (1) requiring the mortgagor's
monthly installments of principal and interest to increase at a
predetermined rate annually for a predetermined period after which the
monthly installments become fixed for the remainder of the mortgage
term, (2) providing for deferred payment of a portion of the interest
due monthly during that period of time; or (3) providing for
recoupment of the interest deferred through negative amortization,
whereby the difference between the scheduled payment of interest on
the mortgage note and the amount of interest actually accrued is added
monthly to the outstanding principal balance of the mortgage note;
o "GEM Loans," which are fixed rate, fully amortizing mortgage loans
providing for monthly payments based on a 10- to 30-year amortization
schedule, with further provisions for scheduled annual payment
increases for a number of years with the full amount of those
increases being applied to principal, and with further provision for
level payments thereafter;
o Buy-Down Loans;
o "Bi-Weekly Loans," which are fixed-rate, conventional,
fully-amortizing Mortgage Loans secured by first mortgages on
one-to-four family residential properties that provide for payments of
principal and interest by the borrower once every two weeks; or
o Mortgage Loans with other payment characteristics as described in this
prospectus and the prospectus supplement.
The Mortgage Loans may include:
o "Cooperative Loans," which are evidenced by promissory notes secured
by a lien on the shares issued by private, non-profit, cooperative
housing corporations ("Cooperatives") and on the related proprietary
leases or occupancy agreements granting exclusive rights to occupy
individual housing units in a building owned by a Cooperative
("Cooperative Dwellings"); or
o "Condominium Loans," which are secured by a mortgage on an individual
housing unit (a "Condominium Unit") in which the owner of the real
property (the "Condominium") is entitled to the exclusive ownership
and possession of his or her individual Condominium Unit and also owns
a proportionate undivided interest in all parts of the Condominium
Building (other than the individual Condominium Units) and all areas
or facilities, if any, for the common use of the Condominium Units,
together with the Condominium Unit's appurtenant interest in the
common elements.
Generally, the Mortgage Loans are secured by mortgages or deeds of trust
or other similar security instruments creating a first lien or (if so
specified in the prospectus supplement) a junior lien on Mortgaged Property.
If specified in the prospectus supplement, the Mortgage Loans may be secured
by security instruments creating a lien on borrowers' leasehold interests in
real property, if the depositor determines the Mortgage Loans are commonly
acceptable to institutional mortgage investors. A Mortgage Loan secured by a
leasehold interest in real property is secured not by a fee simple interest in
the Mortgaged Property but rather by a leasehold interest under which the
mortgagor has the right, for a specified term, to use the related real estate
and the residential dwelling or dwellings located on the real estate.
Generally, a Mortgage Loan will be secured by a leasehold interest only if the
use of leasehold estates as security for mortgage loans is customary in the
area, the lease is not subject to any prior lien that could result in
termination of the lease, and the term of the lease ends at least five years
beyond the maturity date of the Mortgage Loan.
The Mortgaged Properties may include Single Family Properties (i.e., one-
to four-family residential housing, including Condominium Units and
Cooperative Dwellings) or Multifamily Properties (i.e., multifamily
residential rental properties or cooperatively-owned properties consisting of
five or more dwelling units). The Mortgaged Properties may consist of detached
individual dwellings, townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, quadriplexes, row
houses, individual units in planned unit developments and other attached
dwelling units. Multifamily Property or Single Family Property may include
mixed commercial and residential structures.
Each Single Family Property and Multifamily Property will be located on
land owned in fee simple by the borrower or on land leased by the borrower for
a term at least five years greater than the term of the related Mortgage Loan
unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement. Attached dwellings
may include owner-occupied structures where each borrower owns the land upon
which the unit is built, with the remaining adjacent land owned in common or
dwelling units subject to a proprietary lease or occupancy agreement in a
cooperatively owned apartment building. The proprietary lease or occupancy
agreement securing a Cooperative Loan is generally subordinate to any blanket
mortgage on the related cooperative apartment building and/or on the
underlying land. Additionally, in the case of a Cooperative Loan, the
proprietary lease or occupancy agreement is subject to termination and the
cooperative shares are subject to cancellation by the cooperative if the
tenant-stockholder fails to pay maintenance or other obligations or charges
owed to the Cooperative by the tenant-stockholder. See "Legal Aspects of
Loans."
The prospectus supplement will disclose the aggregate principal balance
of Mortgage Loans secured by Mortgaged Properties that are owner-occupied.
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the sole basis for a
representation that a given percentage of the Mortgage Loans are secured by
Single-Family Property that is owner-occupied will be either (1) a
representation by the mortgagor at origination of the Mortgage Loan that
either the borrower will use the underlying Mortgaged Property for a period of
at least six months every year or that the borrower intends to use the
Mortgaged Property as a primary residence, or (2) a finding that the address
of the Mortgaged Property is the borrower's mailing address, as reflected in
the servicer's records. To the extent specified in the prospectus supplement,
the Mortgaged Properties may include non-owner occupied investment properties
and vacation and second homes. Mortgage Loans secured by investment properties
and Multifamily Property may also be secured by an assignment of leases and
rents and operating or other cash flow guarantees relating to the Loans.
The characteristics of the Mortgage Loans comprising or underlying the
Primary Assets for a series may vary if credit support is provided in levels
satisfactory to the Rating Agencies that rate a series of Securities.
Generally, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the
following selection criteria apply to Mortgage Loans included in the Primary
Assets:
o no first lien Mortgage Loan may have a Loan-to-Value Ratio at
origination in excess of 95%, and no second lien Mortgage Loan may
have a Loan-to-Value Ratio at origination in excess of 125%;
o no first lien Mortgage Loan that is a Conventional Loan secured by a
Single Family Property may have a Loan-to-Value Ratio in excess of
80%, unless covered by a primary mortgage insurance policy as
described in this prospectus;
o each first lien Mortgage Loan must have an original term to maturity
of not less than 10 years and not more than 40 years, and each second
lien Mortgage Loan must have an original term to maturity of not less
than 5 years and not more than 30 years;
o no Mortgage Loan may be included that, as of the Cut-off Date, is more
than 59 days delinquent as to payment of principal or interest; and
o no Mortgage Loan (other than a Cooperative Loan) may be included
unless a title insurance policy or, in lieu thereof, an attorney's
opinion of title, and a standard hazard insurance policy (which may be
a blanket policy) is in effect with respect to the Mortgaged Property
securing the Mortgage Loan.
The initial "Loan-to-Value Ratio" of any Mortgage Loan represents the
ratio of the principal amount of the Mortgage Loan outstanding at the
origination of the loan divided by the fair market value of the Mortgaged
Property, as shown in the appraisal prepared in connection with origination of
the Mortgage Loan (the "Appraised Value"). In the case of a Mortgage Loan to
finance the purchase of a Mortgaged Property, the fair market value of the
Mortgaged Property is the lesser of the purchase price paid by the borrower or
the Appraised Value of the Mortgaged Property.
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, "Buy-Down
Loans," which are level payment Mortgage Loans for which funds have been
provided by a person other than the mortgagor to reduce the mortgagor's
Scheduled Payment during the early years of the Mortgage Loan, are also
generally subject to the following requirements:
o during the period (the "Buy-Down Period") when the borrower is not
obligated, on account of the buy-down plan, to pay the full Scheduled
Payment otherwise due on the loan, the Buy-Down Loans must provide for
Scheduled Payments based on a hypothetical reduced interest rate (the
"Buy-Down Mortgage Rate") that is not more than 3% below the mortgage
rate at origination and for annual increases in the Buy-Down Mortgage
Rate during the Buy-Down Period that will not exceed 1%;
o the Buy-Down Period may not exceed three years;
o the maximum amount of funds that may be contributed for a Mortgaged
Property having a Loan-to-Value Ratio (1) of 90% or less at
origination is limited to 10% of the Appraised Value of the Mortgaged
Property, and (2) of over 90% at origination is limited to 6% of the
Appraised Value of the Mortgaged Property;
o the maximum amount of funds (the "Buy-Down Amounts") that may be
contributed by the servicer of the related Mortgaged Loan is limited
to 6% of the Appraised Value of the Mortgaged Property. (This
limitation does not apply to contributions from immediate relatives or
the employer of the mortgagor); and
o the borrower under each Buy-Down Loan must be qualified at a mortgage
rate that is not more than 3% per annum below the current mortgage
rate at origination. (Accordingly, the repayment of a Buy-Down Loan
depends on the borrower's ability to make larger Scheduled Payments
after the Buy-Down Amounts are depleted).
Multifamily Properties are generally subject to the following
requirements, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement:
o no Mortgage Loan may be delinquent for more than 59 days within the
12-month period ending with the Cut-off Date;
o no more than two payments may be 59 days or more delinquent during a
three-year period ending on the Cut-off Date;
o Mortgage Loans with respect to any single borrower may not exceed 5%
of the aggregate principal balance of the Loans comprising the Primary
Assets as of the Cut-off Date; and
o the debt service coverage ratio for each Mortgage Loan (calculated as
described in the prospectus supplement) will not be less than 1.1:1.
As specified in the prospectus supplement, "ARMs" or "Adjustable Rate
Mortgages," which provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate
component of the Scheduled Payment in accordance with an Index, will provide
for a fixed initial Mortgage Rate for one or more Scheduled Payments.
Thereafter, the Mortgage Rates will adjust periodically based, subject to the
applicable limitations, on changes in the relevant Index described in the
prospectus supplement, to a rate equal to the Index plus the Gross Margin,
which is a fixed percentage spread over the Index established contractually
for each ARM at the time of its origination. An ARM may be convertible into a
fixed-rate Mortgage Loan. To the extent specified in the prospectus
supplement, any ARM that is converted may be subject to repurchase by the
servicer.
Adjustable mortgage rates can cause payment increases that some borrowers
may find difficult to make. However, each of the ARMs may provide that its
mortgage rate may not be adjusted to a rate above the applicable lifetime
mortgage rate cap (the "Lifetime Mortgage Rate Cap"), if any, or below the
applicable lifetime minimum mortgage rate (the "Minimum Mortgage Rate"), if
any, for the ARM. In addition, certain of the ARMs provide for limitations on
the maximum amount by which their mortgage rates may adjust for any single
adjustment period (the "Maximum Mortgage Rate Adjustment"). Some ARMs are
payable in self-amortizing payments of principal and interest. Other ARMs
("Negatively Amortizing ARMs") instead provide for limitations on changes in
the Scheduled Payment to protect borrowers from payment increases due to
rising interest rates.
These limitations can result in Scheduled Payments that are greater or
less than the amount necessary to amortize a Negatively Amortizing ARM by its
original maturity at the mortgage rate in effect during any particular
adjustment period. In the event that the Scheduled Payment is not sufficient
to pay the interest accruing on a Negatively-Amortizing ARM, then the Deferred
Interest is added to the principal balance of the ARM, resulting in negative
amortization, and will be repaid through future Scheduled Payments. If
specified in the prospectus supplement, Negatively-Amortizing ARMs may provide
for the extension of their original stated maturity to accommodate changes in
their mortgage rate. The prospectus supplement will specify whether the ARMs
comprising or underlying the Primary Assets are Negatively Amortizing ARMs.
The index (the "Index") applicable to any ARM comprising the Primary
Assets will be the one-month LIBOR Index, the three-year Treasury Index, the
one-year Treasury Index, the Six Month Treasury Index, the Eleventh District
Costs of Funds Index or the National Monthly Median Cost of Funds Ratio to
institutions insured by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation
("FSLIC"), or any other index or indices as described in the prospectus
supplement.
Certain of the Mortgage Loans may be fixed or variable rate Mortgage
Loans that do not provide for monthly payments of principal and interest by
the borrower. Instead, these Mortgage Loans will provide generally either for
the accrual of interest on a monthly basis and the repayment of principal,
interest and, in some cases, certain amounts calculated by reference to the
value, or the appreciation in value of the related Mortgaged Property, or for
payment in lieu of interest of an amount calculated by reference to the
appreciation in value of the related Mortgaged Property, in each case upon the
occurrence of specified maturity events. Maturity events generally include:
o the death of the borrower, or the last living of two co-borrowers;
o the borrower, or the last living of two co-borrowers, ceasing to use
the related Mortgaged Property as his or her principal residence; or
o the sale of the related Mortgaged Property.
The maturity of this type of Mortgage Loan may be accelerated upon the
occurrence of certain events, such as deterioration in the condition of the
Mortgaged Property.
The prospectus supplement for each series of Securities will provide
information about the Mortgage Loans, as of the Cut-off Date, including:
(1) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Mortgage
Loans;
(2) the weighted average Mortgage Rate of the Mortgage Loans, and,
in the case of ARMs, the weighted average of the current mortgage
rates and the Lifetime Mortgage Rate Caps, if any;
(3) the average outstanding principal balance of the Mortgage Loans;
(4) the weighted average term-to-stated maturity of the Mortgage
Loans and the range of remaining terms-to-stated maturity;
(5) the range of Loan-to-Value Ratios for the Mortgage Loans;
(6) the relative percentage (by outstanding principal balance as of
the Cut-off Date) of Mortgage Loans that are ARMs, Cooperative
Loans, Conventional Loans, FHA Loans and VA Loans;
(7) the percentage of Mortgage Loans (by outstanding principal
balance as of the Cut-off Date) that are not covered by primary
mortgage insurance policies;
(8) any pool insurance policy, special hazard insurance policy or
bankruptcy bond or other credit support relating to the Mortgage
Loans;
(9) the geographic distribution of the Mortgaged Properties securing
the Mortgage Loans; and
(10) the percentage of Mortgage Loans (by principal balance as of the
Cut-off Date) that are secured by Single Family Property,
Multifamily Property, Cooperative Dwellings, investment property and
vacation or second homes.
If information of the type described above respecting the Mortgage Loans
is not known to the depositor at the time the Securities are initially
offered, approximate or more general information of the nature described above
will be provided in the prospectus supplement and any additional information
will be set forth in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be available to investors
on the date of issuance of the related series and to be filed with the
Commission within 15 days after the initial issuance of the Securities.
The Manufactured Home Loans
The Loans secured by Manufactured Homes ("Manufactured Home Loans")
comprising or underlying the Primary Assets for a series of Securities will
consist of manufactured housing conditional sales contracts and installment
loan agreements originated by a manufactured housing dealer in the ordinary
course of business and purchased by the depositor. Each Manufactured Home Loan
will have been originated by a bank or savings institution that is a Fannie
Mae- or Freddie Mac-approved seller/servicer or by any financial institution
approved for insurance by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
pursuant to Section 2 of the National Housing Act.
The Manufactured Home Loans may be Conventional Loans, FHA Loans or VA
Loans. Each Manufactured Home Loan will be secured by a Manufactured Home.
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the Manufactured Home
Loans will be fully amortizing and will bear interest at a fixed interest
rate.
Each "Manufactured Home" securing the Manufactured Home Loan consists of
a manufactured home within the meaning of 42 United States Code, Section
5402(6), which defines a "manufactured home" as "a structure, transportable in
one or more sections, which in the traveling mode, is eight body feet or more
in width or forty body feet or more in length, or, when erected on site, is
three hundred twenty or more square feet, and which is built on a permanent
chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent
foundation when connected to the required utilities, and includes the
plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and electrical systems contained therein;
except that such term shall include any structure which meets all the
requirements of [this] paragraph except the size requirements and with respect
to which the manufacturer voluntarily files a certification required by the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and complies with the standards
established under [this] chapter."
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement for a series, the
following restrictions apply with respect to Manufactured Home Loans
comprising or underlying the Primary Assets for a series:
o no Manufactured Home Loan may have a Loan-to-Value Ratio at
origination in excess of 95%;
o each Manufactured Home Loan must have an original term to maturity of
not less than three years and not more than 30 years;
o no Manufactured Home Loan may be as of the Cut-off Date more than 59
days delinquent as to payment of principal or interest; and
o each Manufactured Home Loan must have, as of the Cut-off Date, a
standard hazard insurance policy (which may be a blanket policy) in
effect with respect thereto.
The initial Loan-to-Value Ratio of any Manufactured Home Loan represents
the ratio of the principal amount of the Manufactured Home Loan outstanding at
the origination of the loan divided by the fair market value of the
Manufactured Home, as shown in the appraisal prepared in connection with
origination of the Manufactured Home Loan (the "Appraised Value"). The fair
market value of the Manufactured Home securing any Manufactured Home Loan is
the lesser of the purchase price paid by the borrower or the Appraised Value
of the Manufactured Home. With respect to underwriting of Manufactured Home
Loans, see "Loan Underwriting Procedures and Standards." With respect to
servicing of Manufactured Home Loans, see "Servicing of Loans."
The prospectus supplement for a series of Securities will provide
information about the Manufactured Home Loans comprising the Primary Assets as
of the Cut-off Date, including:
(1) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Manufactured
Home Loans comprising or underlying the Primary Assets;
(2) the weighted average interest rate on the Manufactured Home
Loans;
(3) the average outstanding principal balance of the Manufactured
Home Loans;
(4) the weighted average scheduled term to maturity of the
Manufactured Home Loans and the range of remaining scheduled terms
to maturity;
(5) the range of Loan-to-Value Ratios of the Manufactured Home
Loans;
(6) the relative percentages (by principal balance as of the Cut-off
Date) of Manufactured Home Loans that were made on new Manufactured
Homes and on used Manufactured Homes;
(7) any pool insurance policy, special hazard insurance policy or
bankruptcy bond or other credit support relating to the Manufactured
Home Loans; and
(8) the distribution by state of Manufactured Homes securing the
Loans.
If information of the type specified above respecting the Manufactured
Home Loans is not known to the depositor at the time the Securities are
initially offered, approximate or more general information of the nature
described above will be provided in the prospectus supplement and any
additional information will be set forth in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be
available to investors on the date of issuance of the related series and to be
filed with the Commission within 15 days after the initial issuance of the
Securities.
The information described above regarding the Manufactured Home Loans in
a trust fund may be presented in the prospectus supplement in combination with
similar information regarding the Mortgage Loans in the trust fund.
Pre-Funding Arrangements
The depositor may be required to deposit cash or liquid securities into a
pre-funding account on the issuance date. To the extent provided in the
prospectus supplement for a series, the related Agreements may provide for a
commitment by the depositor to subsequently convey to the trust fund
additional Primary Assets or additional advances in respect of Mortgage Loans
that comprise existing Primary Assets ("Subsequent Primary Assets") following
the date on which the Securities are issued (a "Pre-Funding Arrangement"). The
Pre-Funding Arrangement will require that any Subsequent Primary Assets
included in the trust fund conform to the requirements and conditions provided
in the related Agreements. If a Pre-Funding Arrangement is utilized, on the
closing date for the issuance of the Securities, the trustee will be required
to deposit in a segregated account (a "Pre-Funding Account") all or a portion
of the proceeds received by the trustee in connection with the sale of one or
more classes of Securities of the series. Subsequently, the trust fund will
acquire Subsequent Primary Assets in exchange for the release of money from
the Pre-Funding Account. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus
supplement, the Pre-Funding Arrangement will be limited to a specified period,
generally not to exceed three months, during which time any transfers of
Subsequent Primary Assets must occur.
If all of the funds originally deposited in the Pre-Funding Account are
not used by the end of any specified period, then any remaining amount will be
applied as a mandatory prepayment of a class or classes of Securities, as
specified in the prospectus supplement. Although we expect that substantially
all of the funds in the Pre-Funding Account will be used to acquire Subsequent
Primary Assets, so that there will be no material principal distributions from
amounts remaining on deposit in the Pre-Funding Account, we cannot assure you
that such a distribution will not occur on the Distribution Date following the
end of the Pre-Funding Arrangement.
Amounts on deposit in the Pre-Funding Account will be invested as
provided in the related Agreements in investments permitted by the Rating
Agencies.
Collection Account and Distribution Account
The trustee, or the master servicer, in the name of the trustee, will
establish a separate Collection Account for each series, for deposit of all
distributions received with respect to the Primary Assets for the series, any
initial cash deposit, and reinvestment income. If specified in the prospectus
supplement, any reinvestment income or other gain from investments of funds in
the Collection Account will be credited to the Collection Account, and any
loss resulting from the investments will be charged to the Collection Account.
Reinvestment income may, however, be payable to the trustee, the master
servicer or a servicer as additional compensation. See "Servicing of Loans"
and "The Agreements -- Investment of Funds." In this case, the reinvestment
income would not be included in calculation of the Available Distribution
Amount. See "Description of the Securities -- Distributions on the
Securities."
Funds on deposit in the Collection Account will be available for
remittance to the trustee for deposit into the Distribution Account to the
extent of the Available Distribution Amount and for certain other payments
provided for in the Agreements. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus
supplement, amounts in the Collection Account constituting reinvestment income
payable to the master servicer as additional servicing compensation or for the
reimbursement of advances or expenses, amounts in respect of any Excess
Servicing Fee, Retained Interest, and amounts to be deposited into any reserve
fund will not be included in determining amounts to be remitted to the trustee
for deposit into the Distribution Account.
A separate Distribution Account will be established by the trustee in the
name of the trustee for the benefit of the securityholders into which all
funds received from the master servicer (or servicer) and all required
withdrawals from any reserve funds for the related series will be deposited,
pending distribution to the securityholders. If specified in the prospectus
supplement, any reinvestment income or other gain from investments of funds in
the Distribution Account will be credited to the Distribution Account, and any
loss resulting from the investments will be charged to the Distribution
Account. Reinvestment income, may, however, be payable to the trustee or the
master servicer as additional compensation. On each Distribution Date, all
funds on deposit in the Distribution Account, subject to certain permitted
withdrawals by the trustee as set forth in the Agreements, will be available
for remittance to the securityholders. See also "The Agreements --
Distribution Account."
Other Funds or Accounts
A trust fund may include other funds and accounts or a security interest
in certain funds and accounts for the purpose of, among other things, paying
certain administrative fees and expenses of the trust and accumulating funds
pending their distribution. If specified in the prospectus supplement, certain
funds may be established with the trustee with respect to Buy-Down Loans, GPM
Loans, or other Loans having special payment features included in the trust
fund in addition to or in lieu of any similar funds to be held by the
servicer. See "Servicing of Loans -- Collection Procedures; Escrow Accounts"
and "-- Deposits to and Withdrawals from the Collection Account." If Private
Mortgage-Backed Securities are backed by GPM Loans, and the asset value with
respect to a Multi-Class Series is determined on the basis of the scheduled
maximum principal balance of the GPM Loans, a GPM Fund will be established
that will be similar to that which would be established if GPM Loans
constituted the Primary Assets. See "Servicing of Loans -- Deposits to and
Withdrawals from the Collection Account." Other similar accounts may be
established as specified in the prospectus supplement.
Loan Underwriting Procedures and Standards
Underwriting Standards
The depositor expects that Loans comprising the Primary Assets for a
series of Securities will have been originated generally in accordance with
underwriting procedures and standards similar to those described in this
prospectus, except as otherwise described in the prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the originators
of the Mortgage Loans will have been savings and loan associations, savings
banks, commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies or similar
institutions supervised and examined by a federal or state authority;
mortgagees approved by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development pursuant
to Sections 203 and 211 of the National Housing Act, or wholly-owned
subsidiaries thereof; or by subsidiaries of the depositor. Manufactured Home
Loans may have been originated by these institutions (other than a subsidiary
of the depositor) or by a financial institution approved for insurance by the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development pursuant to Section 2 of the
National Housing Act. Except as otherwise set forth in the prospectus
supplement, the originator of a Loan will have applied underwriting procedures
intended to evaluate the borrower's credit standing and repayment ability and
the value and adequacy of the related property as collateral. FHA Loans and VA
Loans will have been originated in compliance with the underwriting policies
of the FHA and the VA, respectively.
In general, each borrower will have been required to complete an
application designed to provide to the original lender pertinent credit
information about the borrower. As part of the description of the borrower's
financial condition, the borrower generally will have furnished information
with respect to its assets, liabilities, income, credit history, employment
history and personal information, and furnished an authorization to apply for
a credit report that summarizes the borrower's credit history with local
merchants and lenders and any record of bankruptcy. In general, an employment
verification is obtained from an independent source (typically the borrower's
employer), which reports the length of employment with that organization, the
borrower's current salary and whether it is expected that the borrower will
continue that employment in the future. If the borrower was self-employed, the
borrower may have been required to submit copies of recent signed tax returns.
The borrower may also have been required to authorize verifications of
deposits at financial institutions where the borrower had demand or savings
accounts. With respect to Multifamily Property, information concerning
operating income and expenses will have been obtained from the borrower
showing operating income and expenses during the preceding three calendar
years. Certain considerations may cause an originator of Loans to depart from
these guidelines. For example, when two individuals co-sign the loan
documents, the incomes and expenses of both individuals may be included in the
computation.
The adequacy of the property financed by the related Loan as security for
repayment of the Loan will generally have been determined by appraisal in
accordance with pre-established appraisal procedure guidelines for appraisals
established by or acceptable to the originator. Appraisers may be staff
appraisers employed by the Loan originator or independent appraisers selected
in accordance with pre-established guidelines established by the Loan
originator. The appraisal procedure guidelines will have required that the
appraiser or an agent on its behalf personally inspect the property and verify
that it was in good condition and that construction, if new, had been
completed. If an appraisal was required, the appraisal will have been based
upon a market data analysis of recent sales of comparable properties and, when
deemed applicable, a replacement cost analysis based on the current cost of
constructing or purchasing a similar property.
In general, based on the data provided, certain verifications and the
appraisal, a determination will have been made by the original lender that the
borrower's monthly income would be sufficient to enable the borrower to meet
its monthly obligations on the Loan and other expenses related to the property
(such as property taxes, utility costs, standard hazard and primary mortgage
insurance and, if applicable, maintenance fees and other levies assessed by a
Cooperative or a condominium association) and certain other fixed obligations
other than housing expenses. The originating lender's guidelines for Loans
secured by Single Family Property generally will specify that Scheduled
Payments plus taxes and insurance and all Scheduled Payments extending beyond
one year (including those mentioned above and other fixed obligations, such as
car payments) would equal no more than specified percentages of the
prospective borrower's gross income. These guidelines will generally be
applied only to the payments to be made during the first year of the Loan.
With respect to FHA Loans and VA Loans, traditional underwriting
guidelines used by the FHA and the VA, as the case may be, which were in
effect at the time of origination of each Loan will generally have been
applied. With respect to Multifamily Property, the Loan originator will have
made an assessment of the capabilities of the management of the project,
including a review of management's past performance record, its management
reporting and control procedures (to determine its ability to recognize and
respond to problems) and its accounting procedures to determine cash
management ability. Income derived from the Mortgaged Property constituting
investment property may have been considered for underwriting purposes, rather
than the income of the borrower from other sources. With respect to Mortgaged
Property consisting of vacation or second homes, no income derived from the
property will have been considered for underwriting purposes.
Certain types of Loans that may be included in the Primary Assets for a
series of Securities may involve additional uncertainties not present in
traditional types of loans. For example, Buy-Down Loans, GEM Loans and GPM
Loans provide for escalating or variable payments by the borrower. These types
of Loans are underwritten on the basis of a judgment that the borrower will
have the ability to make larger Scheduled Payments in subsequent years. ARMs
may involve similar assessments.
To the extent specified in the prospectus supplement, the depositor may
purchase Loans (or participation interests therein) for inclusion in a trust
fund that are underwritten under standards and procedures that vary from and
are less stringent than those described in this prospectus. For instance,
Loans may be underwritten under a "limited documentation" or "no
documentation" program. With respect to those Loans, minimal investigation
into the borrowers' credit history and income profile is undertaken by the
originator and the Loans may be underwritten primarily on the basis of an
appraisal of the Mortgaged Property and Loan-to-Value Ratio on origination.
In addition, Mortgage Loans may have been originated in connection with a
governmental program under which underwriting standards were significantly
less stringent and designed to promote home ownership or the availability of
affordable residential rental property notwithstanding higher risks of default
and losses. The prospectus supplement will specify the underwriting standards
applicable to the Mortgage Loans.
Certain states where the Mortgaged Properties may be located have
"antideficiency" laws requiring, in general, that lenders providing credit on
Single Family Property look solely to the property for repayment in the event
of foreclosure. See "Legal Aspects of Loans."
Loss Experience
The general appreciation of real estate values experienced in the past
has been a factor in limiting the general loss experience on Conventional
Loans. However, we cannot assure you that the past pattern of appreciation in
value of the real property securing the Loans will continue; in fact, some
regions of the country have experienced significant depreciation in real
estate values in recent periods. Also, there is no assurance that appreciation
of real estate values generally, if appreciation occurs, will limit loss
experiences on non-traditional housing such as Multifamily Property,
Manufactured Homes or Cooperative Dwellings. Similarly, no assurance can be
given that the value of the Mortgaged Property (including Cooperative
Dwellings) securing a Loan has remained or will remain at the level existing
on the date of origination of the Loan. If the residential real estate market
in one or more regions of the United States should experience decline in
property values so that the outstanding balances of the Loans and any
secondary financing on the Mortgaged Properties securing the Loans become
equal to or greater than the value of the related Mortgaged Properties, then
the actual rates of delinquencies, foreclosures and losses could be higher
than those now generally experienced in the mortgage lending industry. See
"Legal Aspects of Loans."
No assurance can be given that values of Manufactured Homes have or will
remain at the levels existing on the dates of origination of the related Loan.
Manufactured Homes are less likely to experience appreciation in value and
more likely to experience depreciation in value over time than other types of
Mortgaged Property. Additionally, delinquency, loss and foreclosure experience
on Manufactured Home Loans may be adversely affected to a greater degree by
regional and local economic conditions than more traditional Mortgaged
Property. Loans secured by Multifamily Property may also be more susceptible
to losses due to changes in local and regional economic conditions than Loans
secured by other Single Family Property. For example, unemployment resulting
from an economic downturn in local industry may sharply affect occupancy
rates. Also, interest rate fluctuations can make home ownership a more
attractive alternative to renting, causing occupancy rates and market rents to
decline. New construction can create an oversupply, particularly in a market
that has experienced low vacancy rates.
To the extent that losses resulting from delinquencies, losses and
foreclosures or repossession of Mortgaged Property with respect to Loans
included in the Primary Assets for a series of Securities are not covered by
the methods of credit support or the insurance policies described in this
prospectus or the prospectus supplement, losses will be borne by holders of
the Securities of the related series. Even where credit support covers all
losses resulting from delinquency and foreclosure or repossession, the effect
of foreclosures and repossessions may be to increase prepayment experience on
the Primary Assets, thus reducing average weighted life and affecting yield to
maturity. See "Yield, Prepayment and Maturity Considerations."
Representations and Warranties
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, at the time of
delivery of the Mortgage Loans to the trustee, the depositor or another entity
will represent and warrant to the trustee with respect to the Mortgage Loans
comprising the Primary Assets in a trust fund, that:
o any required title insurance (or in the case of Mortgaged Properties
located in areas where such policies are generally not available, an
attorney's certificate of title) and any required standard hazard
and primary mortgage insurance was in effect as of the date of the
representation and warranty;
o immediately prior to the transfer and assignment of the Mortgage
Loans the depositor (or other entity) with respect to each Mortgage
Loan had good title to and was sole owner of each Mortgage Loan;
o with respect to first lien Mortgage Loans, each Mortgage constituted
a valid lien on the related Mortgaged Property (subject only to
permissible title insurance exceptions) and that the related
Mortgaged Property was free of material damage and was in good
repair;
o each Mortgage Loan at the time it was made complied in all material
respects with applicable state and federal laws, including usury,
equal credit opportunity and truth-in-lending or similar disclosure
laws; and
o each Mortgage Loan was current as to all required payments (i.e.,
not more than one or two payments delinquent).
If the Mortgage Loans include Cooperative Loans, no representations or
warranties with respect to title insurance or hazard insurance will be given.
In addition, if the Mortgage Loans include Condominium Loans, no
representation regarding hazard insurance will be given. Generally, the
Cooperative itself is responsible for the maintenance of hazard insurance for
property owned by the Cooperative and the persons appointed or elected by the
Condominium Unit owners to govern the affairs of the Condominium (the
"Condominium Association") are responsible for maintaining standard hazard
insurance, insuring the entire multi-unit building or buildings, or group of
buildings, whether or not attached to each other, located on property subject
to Condominium ownership (the "Condominium Building") (including each
individual Condominium Unit), and the borrowers of that Cooperative or
Condominium may not maintain separate hazard insurance on their individual
Cooperative Dwellings or Condominium Units. See "Servicing of Loans --
Maintenance of Insurance Policies and Other Servicing Procedures."
With respect to a Cooperative Loan, unless otherwise specified in the
prospectus supplement, the depositor will represent and warrant based, in
part, upon representations and warranties of the originator of the Cooperative
Loan that (1) with respect to first lien Cooperative Loans, the security
interest created by the cooperative security agreements is a valid first lien
on the collateral securing the Cooperative Loan (subject to the right of the
related Cooperative to cancel shares and terminate the proprietary lease for
unpaid assessments) and (2) the related Cooperative Dwelling is free of
material damage and in good repair.
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, with respect to
each Manufactured Home Loan, the depositor or another entity, based, in part,
upon representations and warranties of the originator of the Manufactured Home
Loan, will represent and warrant, among other things that:
o immediately prior to the transfer and assignment of the Manufactured
Home Loans to the trustee, the depositor had good title to, and was
the sole owner of, each Manufactured Home Loan;
o as of the date of the transfer and assignment, the Manufactured Home
Loans are subject to no offsets, defenses or counterclaims;
o each Manufactured Home Loan at the time it was made complied in all
material respects with applicable state and federal laws, including
usury, equal credit opportunity and truth-in-lending or similar
disclosure laws;
o with respect to first lien Manufactured Home Loans, as of the date of
the transfer and assignment, each Manufactured Home Loan constitutes a
valid lien on the related Manufactured Home and is free of material
damage and is in good repair;
o as of the date of the representation and warranty, no Manufactured
Home Loan is more than 59 days delinquent, and there are no delinquent
tax or assessment liens against the related Manufactured Home; and
o with respect to each Manufactured Home Loan, any required hazard
insurance policy was effective at the origination of each Manufactured
Home Loan and remained in effect on the date of the transfer and
assignment of the Manufactured Home Loan from the depositor and that
all premiums due on the insurance have been paid in full.
Upon the discovery of the breach of any representation or warranty made
by the depositor or another entity in respect of a Loan that materially and
adversely affects the value of the Loan, such party will be obligated to cure
the breach in all material respects, repurchase the Loan from the trustee, or,
unless specified otherwise in the prospectus supplement, deliver a Qualified
Substitute Mortgage Loan as described below under "The Agreements --
Assignment of Primary Assets."
The depositor does not have, and is not expected in the future to have,
any significant assets with which to meet its obligations to repurchase or
substitute Loans, and its only source of funds to make such a substitution or
repurchase would be from funds obtained from the enforcement of a
corresponding obligation, if any, on the part of the originator or seller of
the Loans. The PMBS Trustee (in the case of Private Mortgage-Backed
Securities) or the trustee, as applicable, will be required to enforce this
obligation following the practices it would employ in its good faith business
judgment were it the owner of the Loan. If specified in the prospectus
supplement, the master servicer may be obligated to enforce this obligation
rather than the trustee or PMBS Trustee.
Substitution of Primary Assets
Substitution of Primary Assets will be permitted in the event of breaches
of representations and warranties with respect to any original Primary Asset
or in the event the documentation with respect to any Primary Asset is
determined by the trustee to be incomplete. The prospectus supplement will
indicate the period during which a substitution will be permitted and will
describe any other conditions upon which Primary Assets may be substituted for
Primary Assets initially included in the trust fund.
Servicing of Loans
General
Customary servicing functions with respect to Loans constituting the
Primary Assets in the trust fund will be provided, as specified in the
prospectus supplement, either by the master servicer directly or through one
or more servicers subject to supervision by the master servicer, or by a
single servicer that is a party to the applicable Agreement for a series and
services the Loans directly or through one or more subservicers (the
"Subservicers"). In general, descriptions of the rights and obligations of a
master servicer will also be applicable to a servicer, and descriptions of the
rights and obligations of servicers that service Loans under the supervision
of a master servicer will generally be applicable to Subservicers. If the
master servicer is not directly servicing the Loans, then the master servicer
will generally:
o administer and supervise the performance by the servicers of their
servicing responsibilities under their servicing agreements
("Servicing Agreements") with the master servicer,
o maintain any standard or special hazard insurance policy, primary
mortgage insurance, bankruptcy bond or pool insurance policy required
for the related Loans and
o advance funds as described below under "Advances and Limitations
Thereon."
If the master servicer services the Loans through servicers as its
agents, the master servicer may or may not, as specified in the prospectus
supplement, be ultimately responsible for the performance of all servicing
activities, including those performed by the servicers, notwithstanding its
delegation of certain responsibilities to the servicers. If a single servicer
services the Loans through Subservicers, the servicer will be ultimately
responsible for the performance of all servicing activities.
The master servicer will be a party to the applicable Agreement for any
series for which Loans comprise the Primary Assets and may be a party to a
Participation Agreement executed with respect to any Participation
Certificates that constitute the Primary Assets. The master servicer may be an
affiliate of the depositor. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus
supplement, the master servicer and each servicer will be required to be a
Fannie Mae- or Freddie Mac-approved seller/servicer and, in the case of FHA
Loans, approved by HUD as an FHA mortgagee.
The master servicer will be paid a Servicing Fee for the performance of
its services and duties under each Agreement as specified in the prospectus
supplement. Each servicer, if any, will be entitled to receive either a
portion of the Servicing Fee or a separate fee. In addition, the master
servicer or servicer may be entitled to retain late charges, assumption fees
and similar charges to the extent collected from mortgagors. If a servicer is
terminated by the master servicer, the servicing function of the servicer will
be either transferred to a substitute servicer or performed by the master
servicer. The master servicer will be entitled to retain the fee paid to the
servicer under a terminated Servicing Agreement if the master servicer elects
to perform the servicing functions itself.
The master servicer, at its election, may pay itself the Servicing Fee
for a series with respect to each Mortgage Loan either by:
o withholding the Servicing Fee from any scheduled payment of interest
prior to the deposit of the payment in the Collection Account for the
related series,
o withdrawing the Servicing Fee from the Collection Account after the
entire Scheduled Payment has been deposited in the Collection Account,
or
o requesting that the trustee pay the Servicing Fee out of amounts in
the Distribution Account.
Collection Procedures; Escrow Accounts
The master servicer, acting directly or through servicers, will make
reasonable efforts to collect all payments required to be made under the
Mortgage Loans and will, consistent with the Agreement for a series and any
applicable insurance policies and other credit supports, follow such
collection procedures as it follows with respect to comparable loans held in
its own portfolio. Consistent with the above, the master servicer and any
servicer may, in its discretion, (1) waive any assumption fee, late payment
charge, or other charge in connection with a Loan and (2) arrange with a
mortgagor a schedule for the liquidation of delinquencies by extending the Due
Dates for Scheduled Payments on the Loan.
As specified in the prospectus supplement, the master servicer or the
servicers acting under its supervision, to the extent permitted by law, may
establish and maintain escrow or impound accounts ("Escrow Accounts") in which
payments by borrowers to pay taxes, assessments, mortgage and hazard insurance
premiums, and other comparable items that are required to be paid to the
mortgagee will be deposited. However, Mortgage Loans and Manufactured Home
Loans may not require those payments under the loan related documents, in
which case the master servicer would not be required to establish any Escrow
Account with respect to those Loans.
Withdrawals from the Escrow Accounts are to be made to effect timely
payment of taxes, assessments, mortgage and hazard insurance premiums, to
refund to borrowers amounts determined to be overages, to pay interest to
borrowers on balances in the Escrow Account to the extent required by law, to
repair or otherwise protect the property securing the related Loan and to
clear and terminate the Escrow Account. The master servicer or the applicable
servicers will be responsible for the administration of the Escrow Accounts
and generally will make advances to the account when a deficiency exists.
Deposits to and Withdrawals from the Collection Account
The master servicer or the trustee will establish a separate account (the
"Collection Account") in the name of the trustee. The Collection Account will
be maintained in an account or accounts (1) at a depository institution, the
long-term unsecured debt obligations of which at the time of any deposit
therein are rated within the two highest rating categories by each Rating
Agency rating the Securities of the related series, (2) the deposits in which
are insured to the maximum extent available by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or which are secured in a manner meeting requirements established
by each Rating Agency or (3) with a depository institution otherwise
acceptable to each Rating Agency.
The Collection Account may be maintained as an interest-bearing account,
or the funds held therein may be invested, pending remittance to the trustee,
in Eligible Investments. If specified in the prospectus supplement, the master
servicer will be entitled to receive as additional compensation any interest
or other income earned on funds in the Collection Account.
As specified in the applicable Agreement, the master servicer will
deposit into the Collection Account for each series on the Business Day
following the closing date for the issuance of a series, any amounts
representing Scheduled Payments due after the related Cut-off Date but
received by the master servicer on or before the closing date, and thereafter,
after the date of receipt thereof, the following payments and collections
received or made by it (other than in respect of principal of and interest on
the related Loans due on or before the Cut-off Date):
o all payments on account of principal, including prepayments, on the
Loans;
o all payments on account of interest on the Loans after deducting
therefrom, at the discretion of the master servicer but only to the
extent of the amount permitted to be withdrawn or withheld from the
Collection Account in accordance with the related Agreement, the
Servicing Fee in respect of the Loans;
o all amounts received by the master servicer in connection with the
liquidation of defaulted Loans or property acquired in respect
thereof, whether through foreclosure sale or otherwise, including
payments in connection with the Loans received from the mortgagor,
other than amounts required to be paid to the mortgagor pursuant to
the terms of the applicable Mortgage or otherwise pursuant to law
("Liquidation Proceeds"), exclusive of, in the discretion of the
master servicer but only to the extent of the amount permitted to be
withdrawn from the Collection Account in accordance with the related
Agreement, the Servicing Fee, if any, in respect of the related Loan;
o all proceeds received by the trustee under any title, hazard or other
insurance policy covering any Loan, other than proceeds to be applied
to the restoration or repair of the Mortgaged Property or released to
the mortgagor in accordance with the related Agreement (which will be
retained by the master servicer and not deposited in the Collection
Account);
o all amounts required to be deposited therein from any applicable
Reserve Fund for the related series pursuant to the related Agreement;
o all Advances for the related series made by the master servicer
pursuant to the related Agreement; and
o all proceeds of any Loans repurchased by the depositor pursuant to the
related Agreement.
Generally, the master servicer is permitted, from time to time, to make
withdrawals from the Collection Account for each series for the following
purposes:
o to reimburse itself for Advances for the related series made by it
pursuant to the related Agreement; the master servicer's right to
reimburse itself is limited to amounts received on or in respect of
particular Loans (including, for this purpose, Liquidation Proceeds
and amounts representing proceeds of insurance policies covering the
related Mortgaged Property) which represent late recoveries of
Scheduled Payments respecting which any Advance was made;
o to reimburse itself for any Advances for the related series that the
master servicer determines in good faith it will be unable to recover
from amounts representing late recoveries of Scheduled Payments
respecting which the Advance was made or from Liquidation Proceeds or
the proceeds of insurance policies;
o to reimburse itself from Liquidation Proceeds for liquidation expenses
and for amounts expended by it in good faith in connection with the
restoration of damaged Mortgaged Property and, to the extent that
Liquidation Proceeds after reimbursement are in excess of the
outstanding principal balance of the related Loan, together with
accrued and unpaid interest thereon at the applicable Interest Rate to
the Due Date next succeeding the date of its receipt of Liquidation
Proceeds, to pay to itself out of the excess the amount of any unpaid
Servicing Fee and any assumption fees, late payment charges, or other
charges on the related Loan;
o in the event it has elected not to pay itself the Servicing Fee out of
any interest component of any Scheduled Payment, late payment or other
recovery with respect to a particular Loan prior to the deposit of the
Scheduled Payment, late payment or recovery into the Collection
Account, to pay to itself the Servicing Fee, as adjusted pursuant to
the related Agreement, from the related Scheduled Payment, late
payment or other recovery, to the extent permitted by the Agreement;
o to reimburse itself for expenses incurred by and recoverable by or
reimbursable to it pursuant to the related Agreement;
o to pay to itself with respect to each Loan or REO Property acquired in
respect thereof that has been repurchased by the depositor pursuant to
the related Agreement all amounts received thereon and not distributed
as of the date on which the related repurchase price was determined;
o to reimburse itself for the excess of any unreimbursed Advances with
respect to a particular Loan over the related Liquidation Proceeds;
o to make payments to the trustee of the related series for deposit into
the Distribution Account, if any, or for remittance to the
securityholders of the related series in the amounts and in the manner
provided for in the related Agreement; and
o to clear and terminate the Collection Account pursuant to the related
Agreement.
In addition, if the master servicer deposits in the Collection Account
for a series any amount not required to be deposited therein, it may, at any
time, withdraw the amount from the Collection Account.
Servicing Accounts
In those cases where a servicer is servicing a Mortgage Loan, the
servicer will establish and maintain an account (a "Servicing Account") that
will comply with the standards set forth above, and which is otherwise
acceptable to the master servicer. The servicer is generally required to
deposit into the Servicing Account all amounts enumerated in the preceding
paragraph in respect of the Mortgage Loans received by the servicer, less its
servicing compensation. On the date specified in the prospectus supplement,
the servicer will remit to the master servicer all funds held in the Servicing
Account with respect to each Mortgage Loan. The servicer may, to the extent
described in the prospectus supplement, be required to advance any monthly
installment of principal and interest that was not received, less its
servicing fee, by the date specified in the prospectus supplement.
Buy-Down Loans, GPM Loans and Other Subsidized Loans
With respect to each Buy-Down Loan, if any, included in a trust fund, the
master servicer will deposit all Buy-Down Amounts in a custodial account
(which may be interest-bearing) complying with the requirements set forth
above for the Collection Account (the "Buy-Down Fund"). The amount of the
deposit, together with investment earnings thereon at the rate specified in
the prospectus supplement, will provide sufficient funds to support the
payments on the Buy-Down Loan on a level debt service basis. The master
servicer will not be obligated to add to the Buy-Down Fund should amounts
therein and investment earnings prove insufficient to maintain the scheduled
level of payments on the Buy-Down Loans, in which event distributions to the
securityholders may be affected.
Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, a Buy-Down Fund
will not be included in or deemed to be a part of the trust fund. Unless
otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the terms of all Buy-Down
Loans provide for the contribution of buy-down funds in an amount equal to or
exceeding either (1) the total payments to be made from those funds pursuant
to the related buydown plan or (2) if the buy-down funds are present valued,
that amount of buy-down funds which, together with investment earnings thereon
at a specified rate, compounded monthly, will support the scheduled level of
payments due under the Buy-Down Loan. Neither the master servicer, any
servicer nor the depositor will be obligated to add to the buy-down funds any
of its own funds should investment earnings prove insufficient to maintain the
scheduled level of payments on the Buy-Down Loan, in which event distributions
to securityholders may be affected. With respect to each Buy-Down Loan, the
master servicer will deposit in the Collection Account the amount, if any, of
the buy-down funds (and, if applicable, investment earnings thereon) for each
Buy-Down Loan that, when added to the amount due from the borrower on the
Buy-Down Loan, equals the full monthly payment that would be due on the
Buy-Down Loan if it were not subject to the buy-down plan.
If the borrower on a Buy-Down Loan prepays the Loan in its entirety
during the Buy-Down Period, the master servicer will withdraw from the
Buy-Down Fund and remit to the borrower in accordance with the related
buy-down plan any buy-down funds remaining in the Buy-Down Fund. If a
prepayment by a borrower during the Buy-Down Period together with buy-down
funds will result in a prepayment in full, the master servicer will withdraw
from the Buy-Down Fund for deposit in the Collection Account the buy-down
funds and investment earnings thereon, if any, which together with the
prepayment will result in a prepayment in full. If the borrower defaults
during the Buy-Down Period with respect to a Buy-Down Loan and the property
securing the related Loan is sold in liquidation (either by the master
servicer or the insurer under any related insurance policy), the master
servicer will withdraw from the Buy-Down Fund the buy-down funds and all
investment earnings thereon, if any, for deposit in the Collection Account or
remit the same to the insurer if the mortgaged property is transferred to the
insurer and the insurer pays all of the loss incurred in respect of the
default. In the case of any prepaid or defaulted Buy-Down Loan, the buy-down
funds in respect of which were supplemented by investment earnings, the master
servicer will withdraw from the Buy-Down Fund and retain or remit to the
borrower, depending upon the terms of the buy-down plan, any investment
earnings remaining in the related Buy-Down Fund.
The terms of certain of the Loans may provide for the contribution of
subsidy funds by the seller of the related Mortgaged Property or by another
entity. With respect to each such Loan, the master servicer will deposit the
subsidy funds in a custodial account (which may be interest-bearing) complying
with the requirements set forth above for the Collection Account (a "Subsidy
Fund"). Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the terms of
each such Loan will provide for the contribution of the entire undiscounted
amount of subsidy amounts necessary to maintain the scheduled level of
payments due during the early years of the Loan. Neither the master servicer,
any servicer nor the depositor will be obligated to add to the Subsidy Fund
any of its own funds. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement,
the Subsidy Fund will not be included in or deemed to be a part of the trust
fund.
If the depositor values any GPM Loans deposited into the trust fund for a
Multi-Class Series on the basis of the GPM Loan's scheduled maximum principal
balance, the master servicer will, if and to the extent provided in the
prospectus supplement, deposit in a custodial account (which may be interest
bearing) (the "GPM Fund") complying with the requirements set forth above for
the Collection Account an amount which, together with reinvestment income
thereon at the rate set forth in the prospectus supplement, will be sufficient
to cover the amount by which payments of principal and interest on the GPM
Loans assumed in calculating payments due on the Securities of that
Multi-Class Series exceed the scheduled payments on the GPM Loans. The trustee
will withdraw amounts from the GPM Fund for a series upon a prepayment of the
GPM Loan as necessary and apply those amounts to the payment of principal and
interest on the Securities of the related series. Neither the depositor, the
master servicer nor any servicer will be obligated to supplement the GPM Fund
should amounts therein and investment earnings thereon prove insufficient to
maintain the scheduled level of payments, in which event, distributions to the
securityholders may be affected. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus
supplement, the GPM Fund will not be included in or deemed to be part of the
trust fund.
With respect to any other type of Loan that provides for payments other
than on the basis of level payments, an account may be established as
described in the prospectus supplement on terms similar to those relating to
the Buy-Down Fund, the Subsidy Fund or the GPM Fund.
Advances and Other Payments, and Limitations Thereon
General
The prospectus supplement will describe the circumstances under which the
master servicer or servicer will make Advances with respect to delinquent
payments on Loans. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement,
neither the master servicer nor any servicer will be obligated to make
Advances, and the obligation to do so may be limited in amount, may be limited
to advances received from the servicers, if any, or may not be activated until
a certain portion of a specified reserve fund is depleted. If the master
servicer is obligated to make Advances, a surety bond or other credit support
may be provided with respect to that obligation as described in the prospectus
supplement. Advances are intended to provide liquidity and not to guarantee or
insure against losses. Accordingly, any funds advanced are recoverable by the
servicer or the master servicer, as the case may be, out of amounts received
on particular Loans that represent late recoveries of principal or interest,
proceeds of insurance policies or Liquidation Proceeds respecting which any
such Advance was made. If an Advance is made and subsequently determined to be
nonrecoverable from late collections, proceeds of Insurance Policies, or
Liquidation Proceeds from the related Loan, the servicer or master servicer
will be entitled to reimbursement from other funds in the Collection Account
or Servicing Account, as the case may be, or from a specified Reserve Fund as
applicable, to the extent specified in the prospectus supplement.
Payments in Connection With Prepaid Loans
In addition, when a borrower makes a principal prepayment in full between
the due dates on which the borrower is required to make its payments on the
Loan, as specified in the prospectus supplement (each, a "Due Date"), the
borrower will generally be required to pay interest on the principal amount
prepaid only to the date of the prepayment. If and to the extent provided in
the prospectus supplement, in order that one or more classes of the
securityholders of a series will not be adversely affected by any resulting
shortfall in interest, the master servicer may be obligated to make payment
from its own funds to the extent necessary to include in its remittance to the
trustee for deposit into the Distribution Account an amount equal to a full
Scheduled Payment of interest on the related Loan (adjusted to the applicable
Interest Rate). Any principal prepayment, together with a full Scheduled
Payment of interest thereon at the applicable Interest Rate (to the extent of
the adjustment or advance), will be distributed to securityholders on the
related Distribution Date. If the amount necessary to include a full Scheduled
Payment of interest as described above exceeds the amount that the master
servicer is obligated to pay, a shortfall may occur as a result of a
prepayment in full. See "Yield, Prepayment and Maturity Considerations."
Maintenance of Insurance Policies and Other Servicing Procedures
Standard Hazard Insurance; Flood Insurance
Except as otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the master
servicer will be required to maintain or to cause the borrower on each Loan to
maintain or will use its best reasonable efforts to cause each servicer of a
Loan to maintain a standard hazard insurance policy providing coverage of the
standard form of fire insurance with extended coverage for certain other
hazards as is customary in the state in which the property securing the
related Loan is located. See "Description of Mortgage and Other Insurance."
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, coverage will be in
an amount at least equal to the greater of (1) the amount necessary to avoid
the enforcement of any co-insurance clause contained in the policy or (2) the
outstanding principal balance of the related Loan.
The master servicer will also maintain on REO Property that secured a
defaulted Loan and that has been acquired upon foreclosure, deed in lieu of
foreclosure, or repossession, a standard hazard insurance policy in an amount
that is at least equal to the maximum insurable value of the REO Property. No
earthquake or other additional insurance will be required of any borrower or
will be maintained on REO Property acquired in respect of a defaulted Loan,
other than pursuant to applicable laws and regulations as may at any time be
in force and will require additional insurance. When, at the time of
origination of a Loan, the property securing that Loan is located in a
federally designated special flood hazard area, the master servicer will cause
to be maintained or use its best reasonable efforts to cause the servicer to
maintain with respect to property flood insurance as required under the Flood
Disaster Protection Act of 1973, to the extent available, or as described in
the prospectus supplement.
Any amounts collected by the master servicer or the servicer, as the case
may be, under any policies of insurance (other than amounts to be applied to
the restoration or repair of the Mortgaged Property, released to the borrower
in accordance with normal servicing procedures or used to reimburse the master
servicer for amounts to which it is entitled to reimbursement) will be
deposited in the Collection Account. In the event that the master servicer
obtains and maintains a blanket policy insuring against hazard losses on all
of the Loans, written by an insurer then acceptable to each Rating Agency that
assigns a rating to the related series, it will conclusively be deemed to have
satisfied its obligations to cause to be maintained a standard hazard
insurance policy for each Loan or related REO Property. This blanket policy
may contain a deductible clause, in which case the master servicer will, in
the event that there has been a loss that would have been covered by the
policy absent a deductible clause, deposit in the Collection Account the
amount not otherwise payable under the blanket policy because of the
application of the deductible clause.
The depositor will not require that a standard hazard or flood insurance
policy be maintained on the Cooperative Dwelling relating to any Cooperative
Loan. Generally, the Cooperative itself is responsible for maintenance of
hazard insurance for the property owned by the cooperative and the
tenant-stockholders of that cooperative may not maintain individual hazard
insurance policies. To the extent, however, that a Cooperative and the related
borrower on a Cooperative Loan do not maintain insurance or do not maintain
adequate coverage or any insurance proceeds are not applied to the restoration
of damaged property, any damage to the borrower's Cooperative Dwelling or the
Cooperative's building could significantly reduce the value of the collateral
securing the Cooperative Loan to the extent not covered by other credit
support. Similarly, the depositor will not require that a standard hazard or
flood insurance policy be maintained on a Condominium Unit relating to any
Condominium Loan. Generally, the Condominium Association is responsible for
maintenance of hazard insurance insuring the entire Condominium building
(including each individual Condominium Unit), and the owner(s) of an
individual Condominium Unit may not maintain separate hazard insurance
policies. To the extent, however, that a Condominium Association and the
related borrower on a Condominium Loan do not maintain insurance or do not
maintain adequate coverage or any insurance proceeds are not applied to the
restoration of damaged property, any damage to the borrower's Condominium Unit
or the related Condominium Building could significantly reduce the value of
the collateral securing the Condominium Loan to the extent not covered by
other credit support.
Special Hazard Insurance Policy
To the extent specified in the prospectus supplement, the master servicer
will maintain a special hazard insurance policy, in full force and effect with
respect to the Loans. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement,
the special hazard insurance policy will provide for a fixed premium rate
based on the declining aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Loans.
The master servicer will agree to pay the premium for any special hazard
insurance policy on a timely basis. If the special hazard insurance policy is
cancelled or terminated for any reason (other than the exhaustion of total
policy coverage), the master servicer will exercise its best reasonable
efforts to obtain from another insurer a replacement policy comparable to the
terminated special hazard insurance policy with a total coverage that is equal
to the then existing coverage of the terminated special hazard insurance
policy; provided that if the cost of any replacement policy is greater than
the cost of the terminated special hazard insurance policy, the amount of
coverage under the replacement policy will, unless otherwise specified in the
prospectus supplement, be reduced to a level such that the applicable premium
does not exceed 150% of the cost of the special hazard insurance policy that
was replaced. Any amounts collected by the master servicer under the special
hazard insurance policy in the nature of insurance proceeds will be deposited
in the Collection Account (net of amounts to be used to repair, restore or
replace the related property securing the Loan or to reimburse the master
servicer (or a servicer) for related amounts owed to it). Certain
characteristics of the special hazard insurance policy are described under
"Description of Mortgage and Other Insurance -- Hazard Insurance on the
Loans."
Primary Mortgage Insurance
To the extent described in the prospectus supplement, the master servicer
will be required to use its best reasonable efforts to keep, or to cause each
servicer to keep, in full force and effect, a primary mortgage insurance
policy with respect to each Conventional Loan secured by Single Family
Property for which insurance coverage is required for as long as the related
mortgagor is obligated to maintain primary mortgage insurance under the terms
of the related Loan. The master servicer will not cancel or refuse to renew
any primary mortgage insurance policy in effect at the date of the initial
issuance of the Securities that is required to be kept in force unless a
replacement primary mortgage insurance policy for the cancelled or nonrenewed
policy is maintained with a mortgage guarantee or insurance company duly
qualified as such under the laws of the state in which the related Mortgaged
Property is located duly authorized and licensed in the state to transact the
applicable insurance business and to write the insurance provided (each, a
"Qualified Insurer").
Primary insurance policies will be required with respect to Manufactured
Home Loans only to the extent described in the prospectus supplement. If
primary mortgage insurance is to be maintained with respect to Manufactured
Home Loans, the master servicer will be required to maintain the insurance as
described above. For further information regarding the extent of coverage
under a primary mortgage insurance policy, see "Description of Mortgage and
Other Insurance -- Mortgage Insurance on the Loans."
FHA Insurance and VA Guarantees
To the extent specified in the prospectus supplement, all or a portion of
the Loans may be insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA. The master
servicer will be required to take steps reasonably necessary to keep the
insurance and guarantees in full force and effect. See "Description of
Mortgage and Other Insurance -- Mortgage Insurance on the Loans."
Pool Insurance Policy
If specified in the prospectus supplement, the master servicer will be
obligated to use its best reasonable efforts to maintain a pool insurance
policy with respect to the Loans in the amount and with the coverage described
in the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus
supplement, the pool insurance policy will provide for a fixed premium rate on
the declining aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Loans. The master
servicer will be obligated to pay the premiums for the pool insurance policy
on a timely basis.
The prospectus supplement will identify the pool insurer for each series
of Securities. If the pool insurer ceases to be a Qualified Insurer because it
is not approved as an insurer by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae or because its
claims-paying ability is no longer rated in the category required by the
prospectus supplement, the master servicer will be obligated to review, no
less often than monthly, the financial condition of the pool insurer to
determine whether recoveries under the pool insurance policy are jeopardized
by reason of the financial condition of the pool insurer. If the master
servicer determines that recoveries may be so jeopardized or if the pool
insurer ceases to be qualified under applicable law to transact a mortgage
guaranty insurance business, the master servicer will exercise its best
reasonable efforts to obtain from another Qualified Insurer a comparable
replacement pool insurance policy with a total coverage equal to the then
outstanding coverage of the pool insurance policy to be replaced; provided
that, if the premium rate on the replacement policy is greater than that of
the existing pool insurance policy, then the coverage of the replacement
policy will, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, be
reduced to a level such that its premium rate does not exceed 150% of the
premium rate on the pool insurance policy to be replaced. Payments made under
a pool insurance policy will be deposited into the Collection Account (net of
expenses of the master servicer or any related unreimbursed advances or unpaid
Servicing Fee). Certain characteristics of the pool insurance policy are
described under "Description of Mortgage and Other Insurance -- Mortgage
Insurance on the Loans."
Bankruptcy Bond
If specified in the prospectus supplement, the master servicer will be
obligated to use its best reasonable efforts to obtain and thereafter maintain
a bankruptcy bond or similar insurance or guaranty in full force and effect
throughout the term of the related Agreement, unless coverage thereunder has
been exhausted through payment of claims. If specified in the prospectus
supplement, the master servicer will be required to pay from its servicing
compensation the premiums for the bankruptcy bond on a timely basis. Coverage
under the bankruptcy bond may be cancelled or reduced by the master servicer
at any time, provided that the cancellation or reduction does not adversely
affect the then current rating of the related series of Securities. See
"Description of Mortgage and Other Insurance -- Bankruptcy Bond."
Presentation of Claims; Realization Upon Defaulted Loans
The master servicer, on behalf of the trustee and the securityholders,
will be required to present or cause to be presented, claims with respect to
any standard hazard insurance policy, pool insurance policy, special hazard
insurance policy, bankruptcy bond, or primary mortgage insurance policy, and
to the FHA and the VA, if applicable in respect of any FHA insurance or VA
guarantee respecting defaulted Mortgage Loans.
The master servicer will use its reasonable best efforts to foreclose
upon, repossess or otherwise comparably convert the ownership of the real
properties securing the related Loans that come into and continue in default
and as to which no satisfactory arrangements can be made for collection of
delinquent payments. In connection with any foreclosure or other conversion,
the master servicer will follow those practices and procedures as it deems
necessary or advisable and as are normal and usual in its servicing activities
with respect to comparable loans serviced by it. However, the master servicer
will not be required to expend its own funds in connection with any
foreclosure or towards the restoration of the property unless it determines
that: (1) the restoration or foreclosure will increase the Liquidation
Proceeds in respect of the related Mortgage Loan available to the
securityholders after reimbursement to itself for its expenses and (2) that
the expenses will be recoverable by it either through Liquidation Proceeds or
the proceeds of insurance.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this prospectus, in the case
of a trust fund for which a REMIC election has been made, the master servicer
will not liquidate any collateral acquired through foreclosure later than one
year after the acquisition of the collateral. While the holder of Mortgaged
Property acquired through foreclosure can often maximize its recovery by
providing financing to a new purchaser, the trust fund will have no ability to
do so and neither the master servicer nor any servicer will be required to do
so.
Similarly, if any property securing a defaulted Loan is damaged and
proceeds, if any, from the related standard hazard insurance policy or the
applicable special hazard insurance policy, if any, are insufficient to
restore the damaged property to a condition sufficient to permit recovery
under any pool insurance policy or any primary mortgage insurance policy, FHA
insurance, or VA guarantee, neither the master servicer nor any servicer will
be required to expend its own funds to restore the damaged property unless it
determines (1) that the restoration will increase the Liquidation Proceeds in
respect of the Loan after reimbursement of the expenses incurred by the
servicer or the master servicer and (2) that the expenses will be recoverable
by it through proceeds of the sale of the property or proceeds of the related
pool insurance policy or any related primary mortgage insurance policy, FHA
insurance, or VA guarantee.
As to collateral securing a Cooperative Loan, any prospective purchaser
will generally have to obtain the approval of the board of directors of the
relevant cooperative before purchasing the shares and acquiring rights under
the proprietary lease or occupancy agreement securing that Cooperative Loan.
See "Legal Aspects of Loans -- Realizing Upon Cooperative Loan Security." This
approval is usually based on the purchaser's income and net worth and numerous
other factors. Although the Cooperative's approval is unlikely to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed, the necessity of acquiring approval could
limit the number of potential purchasers for those shares and otherwise limit
the trust fund's ability to sell and realize the value of those shares.
With respect to a Loan secured by a Multifamily Property, the market
value of any property obtained in foreclosure or by deed in lieu of
foreclosure will be based substantially on the operating income obtained by
renting the dwelling units. As a default on a Loan secured by Multifamily
Property is likely to have occurred because operating income, net of expenses,
is insufficient to make debt service payments on the related Loan, it can be
anticipated that the market value of the property will be less than
anticipated when the Loan was originated. To the extent that equity does not
cushion the loss in market value and the loss is not covered by other credit
support, a loss may be experienced by the related trust fund. With respect to
a defaulted Manufactured Home Loan, the value of the related Manufactured Home
can be expected to be less on resale than the value of a new Manufactured
Home. To the extent equity does not cushion the loss in market value, and the
loss is not covered by other credit support, a loss may be experienced by the
trust fund.
Enforcement of Due-On-Sale Clauses
Typically, when any Mortgaged Property is about to be conveyed by the
borrower, the master servicer will, to the extent it has knowledge of the
prospective conveyance and prior to the conveyance, exercise its rights to
accelerate the maturity of the Loan under the applicable "due-on-sale" clause,
if any, unless it reasonably believes that the clause is not enforceable under
applicable law or if the enforcement of the clause would result in loss of
coverage under any primary mortgage insurance policy. In this case, or if the
master servicer reasonably believes that enforcement of a due-on-sale clause
will not be enforceable, the master servicer is authorized to accept from or
enter into an assumption agreement with the person to whom the property has
been or is about to be conveyed, pursuant to which that person becomes liable
under the Loan and pursuant to which the original borrower is released from
liability and that person is substituted as the borrower and becomes liable
under the Loan. Any fee collected in connection with an assumption will be
retained by the master servicer as additional servicing compensation. The
terms of a Loan may not be changed in connection with an assumption except
that, if the terms of the Loan so permit, and subject to certain other
conditions, the interest rate may be increased (but not decreased) to a
prevailing market rate. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus
supplement, securityholders would not benefit from any increase.
Certain Rights Related to Foreclosure
Certain rights in connection with foreclosure of defaulted Mortgage Loans
may be granted to the holders of the class of Subordinate Securities ranking
lowest in priority and, when those Securities are no longer outstanding, to
the holders of the class of Subordinate Securities ranking next lowest in
priority. These rights may include the right to delay foreclosure until a
Mortgage Loan has been delinquent for six months, provided that upon election
to delay foreclosure the holder establishes a reserve fund for the benefit of
the trust fund in an amount equal to 125% of the greater of the Scheduled
Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loan or the appraised value of the related
Mortgaged Property, plus three months' accrued interest on the Mortgage Loan.
Any exercise of the right to delay foreclosure could affect the amount
recovered upon liquidation of the related Mortgaged Property. These rights may
also include the right to recommend foreclosure or alternatives to foreclosure
with respect to a defaulted Mortgage Loan, and the right to purchase the
defaulted Mortgage Loan from the trust fund.
Servicing Compensation and Payment of Expenses
The master servicer or any servicer will be entitled to a servicing fee
in an amount to be determined as specified in the prospectus supplement. The
servicing fee may be fixed or variable. In addition, the master servicer or
any servicer will be entitled to servicing compensation in the form of
assumption fees, late payment charges, or excess proceeds following
disposition of property in connection with defaulted Loans.
As provided in the prospectus supplement, the trust fund or the master
servicer will pay the fees of the servicers, if any, and certain expenses
incurred in connection with the servicing of the Loans, including, without
limitation, the payment of the fees and expenses of the trustee and
independent accountants, the payment of insurance policy premiums and the cost
of credit support, if any, and the payment of expenses incurred in enforcing
the obligations of servicers and in preparation of reports to securityholders.
Certain of these expenses may be reimbursable pursuant to the terms of the
related Agreement from Liquidation Proceeds and the proceeds of insurance
policies and, in the case of enforcement of the obligations of servicers, from
any recoveries in excess of amounts due with respect to the related Loans or
from specific recoveries of costs.
The master servicer will be entitled to reimbursement for certain
expenses incurred by it in connection with the liquidation of defaulted Loans.
The related trust fund will suffer no loss by reason of the expenses to the
extent claims are paid under related insurance policies or from the
Liquidation Proceeds. If claims are either not made or paid under the
applicable insurance policies or if coverage thereunder has been exhausted,
the related trust fund will suffer a loss to the extent that Liquidation
Proceeds, after reimbursement of the master servicer's expenses, are less than
the outstanding principal balance of and unpaid interest on the related Loan
that would be distributable to securityholders.
In addition, the master servicer will be entitled to reimbursement of
expenditures incurred by it in connection with the restoration of property
securing a defaulted Loan, the right of reimbursement being prior to the
rights of the securityholders to receive any related proceeds of insurance
policies, Liquidation Proceeds or amounts derived from other credit supports.
The master servicer is also entitled to reimbursement from the Collection
Account for Advances. In addition, when a borrower makes a principal
prepayment in full between Due Dates on the related Loan, the borrower will
generally be required to pay interest on the amount prepaid only to the date
of prepayment.
If and to the extent provided in the prospectus supplement, in order that
one or more classes of the securityholders of a series will not be adversely
affected by any resulting shortfall in interest, the amount of the Servicing
Fee may be reduced to the extent necessary to include in the master servicer's
remittance to the trustee for deposit into the Distribution Account an amount
equal to a full scheduled payment of interest on the related Loan (adjusted to
the applicable Interest Rate). Any principal prepayment, together with a full
Scheduled Payment of interest thereon at the applicable Interest Rate (to the
extent of the adjustment or advance), will be distributed to securityholders
on the related Distribution Date. If the amount necessary to include a full
Scheduled Payment of interest as described above exceeds the amount of the
Servicing Fee, a shortfall to securityholders may occur as a result of a
prepayment in full. See "Yield, Prepayment and Maturity Considerations."
The rights of the master servicer to receive funds from the Collection
Account for a series, whether as the Servicing Fee or other compensation, or
for the reimbursement of Advances, expenses or otherwise, are not subordinate
to the rights of securityholders of the related series.
Evidence as to Compliance
If specified in the prospectus supplement, the related Agreement for each
series will provide that each year, a firm of independent public accountants
will furnish a statement to the trustee to the effect that the firm has
examined certain documents and records relating to the servicing of mortgage
loans by the master servicer and that, on the basis of its examination, the
firm is of the opinion that the servicing has been conducted in compliance
with the related Agreement except for exceptions that the firm believes to be
immaterial and any other exceptions as set forth in the statement.
The related Agreement for each series may also provide for delivery to
the trustee for the series of an annual statement signed by an officer of the
master servicer to the effect that the master servicer has fulfilled its
obligations under the Agreement throughout the preceding calendar year.
Certain Matters Regarding the Master Servicer
The master servicer for each series, if any, will be identified in the
prospectus supplement. The master servicer may be an affiliate of the
depositor and may have other business relationships with the depositor and its
affiliates.
In the event of an event of default under the related Agreement, the
master servicer may be replaced by the trustee or a successor master servicer.
See "The Agreements -- Event of Default; Rights upon Events of Default."
The master servicer will generally have the right to assign its rights
and delegate its duties and obligations under the related Agreement for each
series; provided that the purchaser or transferee accepting the assignment or
delegation:
o is qualified to service mortgage loans for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac;
o is reasonably satisfactory to the trustee for the related series;
o has a net worth of not less than $15,000,000; and
o executes and delivers to the trustee an agreement, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the trustee, which contains an
assumption by the purchaser or transferee of the due and punctual
performance and observance of each covenant and condition to be
performed or observed by the master servicer under the related
Agreement from and after the date of the agreement; and
provided further that each Rating Agency's rating of the Securities for the
related series in effect immediately prior to the assignment, sale or transfer
is not qualified, downgraded or withdrawn as a result of the assignment, sale
or transfer.
No assignment will become effective until the trustee or a successor
master servicer has assumed the master servicer's obligations and duties under
the related Agreement. To the extent that the master servicer transfers its
obligations to a wholly-owned subsidiary or affiliate, the subsidiary or
affiliate need not satisfy the criteria set forth above, however, in this
case, the assigning master servicer will remain liable for the servicing
obligations under the related Agreement. Any entity into which the master
servicer is merged or consolidated or any successor corporation resulting from
any merger, conversion or consolidation will succeed to the master servicer's
obligations under the related Agreement, provided that the successor or
surviving entity meets the requirements for a successor master servicer set
forth in the preceding paragraph.
Each Agreement will also provide that neither the master servicer, nor
any director, officer, employee or agent of the master servicer, will be under
any liability to the related trust fund or the securityholders for any action
taken or for failing to take any action in good faith pursuant to the related
Agreement or for errors in judgment; provided, however, that neither the
master servicer nor any such person will be protected against any breach of
warranty or representations made under the related Agreement or the failure to
perform its obligations in compliance with any standard of care set forth in
the related Agreement or liability that would otherwise be imposed by reason
of willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of their
duties or by reason of reckless disregard of their obligations and duties
thereunder.
Each Agreement will further provide that the master servicer and any
director, officer, employee or agent of the master servicer is entitled to
indemnification from the related trust fund and will be held harmless against
any loss, liability or expense incurred in connection with any legal action
relating to the Agreements or the Securities, other than any loss, liability
or expense incurred by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence
in the performance of duties thereunder or by reason of reckless disregard of
obligations and duties thereunder. In addition, the related Agreement provides
that the master servicer is not under any obligation to appear in, prosecute
or defend any legal action that is not incidental to its servicing
responsibilities under the related Agreement which, in its opinion, may
involve it in any expense or liability. The master servicer may, in its
discretion, undertake any action which it may deem necessary or desirable with
respect to the related Agreement and the rights and duties of the parties
thereto and the interests of the securityholders thereunder. In this case, the
legal expenses and costs of the action and any liability resulting therefrom
will be expenses, costs, and liabilities of the trust fund and the master
servicer will be entitled to be reimbursed therefor out of the Collection
Account.
Credit Support
General
Credit support may be provided with respect to one or more classes of a
series of Securities or for the related Primary Assets. Credit support may
take the form of one or more of the following:
o an irrevocable letter of credit;
o the subordination of one or more classes of the Securities of a
series;
o reserve funds;
o a pool insurance policy, bankruptcy bond, repurchase bond or special
hazard insurance policy;
o a surety bond or financial guaranty insurance policy;
o the use of cross-support features; or
o another method of credit support described in the prospectus
supplement.
In all cases, the amounts and terms and conditions of the credit support
must be acceptable to each Rating Agency. If specified in the prospectus
supplement, any form of credit support may be structured so as to protect
against losses relating to more than one trust fund.
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement for a series, the
credit support will not provide protection against all risks of loss and will
not guarantee repayment of the entire principal balance of the Securities and
interest thereon at the applicable Interest Rate. If losses occur which exceed
the amount covered by credit support or which are not covered by the credit
support, securityholders will bear their allocable share of deficiencies. See
"The Agreement -- Event of Default; Rights Upon Event of Default." Moreover,
if a form of credit support covers more than one trust fund (each, a "Covered
Trust"), holders of Securities issued by any of the Covered Trusts will be
subject to the risk that the credit support will be exhausted by the claims of
other Covered Trusts prior to the Covered Trust receiving any of its intended
share of the coverage.
If credit support is provided with respect to a series, or the related
Primary Assets, the prospectus supplement will include a description of:
o the amount payable under the credit support;
o any conditions to payment thereunder not otherwise described in this
prospectus;
o the conditions (if any) under which the amount payable under the
credit support may be reduced and under which the credit support may
be terminated or replaced; and
o the material provisions of any agreement relating to the credit
support.
Additionally, the prospectus supplement will set forth certain
information with respect to the issuer of any third-party credit support,
including:
o a brief description of its principal business activities;
o its principal place of business, place of incorporation and the
jurisdiction under which it is chartered or licensed to do business;
o if applicable, the credit ratings assigned to it by rating agencies;
and
o certain financial information.
Subordinate Securities; Subordination Reserve Fund
If specified in the prospectus supplement, one or more classes of a
series may be Subordinate Securities. If specified in the prospectus
supplement, the rights of the Subordinate securityholders to receive
distributions of principal and interest from the Distribution Account on any
Distribution Date will be subordinated to the rights of the Senior
securityholders to the extent of the then applicable "Subordinated Amount" as
defined in the prospectus supplement. The Subordinated Amount will decrease
whenever amounts otherwise payable to the Subordinate securityholders are paid
to the senior securityholders (including amounts withdrawn from the
subordination reserve fund, if any, established pursuant to the related
Agreement (the "Subordination Reserve Fund") and paid to the senior
securityholders), and will (unless otherwise specified in the prospectus
supplement) increase whenever there is distributed to the holders of
Subordinate Securities amounts in respect of which subordination payments have
previously been paid to the senior securityholders (which will occur when
subordination payments in respect of delinquencies and certain other
deficiencies have been recovered).
A series may include a class of Subordinate Securities entitled to
receive cash flows remaining after distributions are made to all other
classes. This right will effectively be subordinate to the rights of other
securityholders, but will not be limited to the Subordinated Amount. If
specified in the prospectus supplement, the subordination of a class may apply
only in the event of (or may be limited to) certain types of losses not
covered by Insurance Policies or other credit support, such as losses arising
from damage to property securing a Loan not covered by standard hazard
insurance policies, losses resulting from the bankruptcy of a borrower and
application of certain provisions of the federal bankruptcy code, 11 United
States Code 101 et seq., and related rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder (the "Bankruptcy Code"), or losses resulting from the denial of
insurance coverage due to fraud or misrepresentation in connection with the
origination of a Loan.
With respect to any series that includes one or more classes of
Subordinate Securities, a Subordination Reserve Fund may be established if
specified in the prospectus supplement. The Subordination Reserve Fund, if
any, will be funded with cash, an irrevocable letter of credit, a demand note
or Eligible Reserve Fund Investments, or by the retention of amounts of
principal or interest otherwise payable to holders of Subordinate Securities,
or both, as specified in the prospectus supplement. The Subordination Reserve
Fund will not be a part of the trust fund, unless otherwise specified in the
prospectus supplement. If the Subordination Reserve Fund is not a part of the
trust fund, the trustee will have a security interest therein on behalf of the
senior securityholders. Moneys will be withdrawn from the Subordination
Reserve Fund to make distributions of principal of or interest on Senior
Securities under the circumstances set forth in the prospectus supplement.
Moneys deposited in any Subordinated Reserve Fund will be invested in
Eligible Reserve Fund Investments. Unless otherwise specified in the
prospectus supplement, any reinvestment income or other gain from these
investments will be credited to the Subordinated Reserve Fund for the related
series, and any loss resulting from the investments will be charged to the
Subordinated Reserve Fund. Amounts in any Subordinated Reserve Fund in excess
of the Required Reserve Fund Balance may be periodically released to the
holders of Subordinate Securities under the conditions and to the extent
specified in the prospectus supplement. Additional information concerning any
Subordinated Reserve Fund will be set forth in the prospectus supplement,
including the amount of any initial deposit to the Subordinated Reserve Fund,
the Required Reserve Fund Balance to be maintained therein, the purposes for
which funds in the Subordinated Reserve Fund may be applied to make
distributions to senior securityholders and the employment of reinvestment
earnings on amounts in the Subordinated Reserve Fund, if any.
Cross-Support Features
If the Primary Assets for a series are divided into separate Asset
Groups, beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by, or which secure, a
separate class or classes of a series, credit support may be provided by a
cross-support feature that requires that distributions be made on Senior
Securities backed by one Asset Group prior to distributions on Subordinate
Securities backed by another Asset Group within the trust fund. The prospectus
supplement for a series that includes a cross-support feature will describe
the manner and conditions for applying the cross-support feature.
Insurance
Credit support with respect to a series may be provided by various forms
of insurance policies, subject to limits on the aggregate dollar amount of
claims that will be payable under each insurance policy, with respect to all
Loans comprising or underlying the Primary Assets for a series, or those Loans
with certain characteristics. The insurance policies include primary mortgage
insurance and standard hazard insurance and may, if specified in the
prospectus supplement, include a pool insurance policy covering losses in
amounts in excess of coverage of any primary insurance policy, a special
hazard insurance policy covering certain risks not covered by standard hazard
insurance policies, a bankruptcy bond covering certain losses resulting from
the bankruptcy of a borrower and application of certain provisions of the
Bankruptcy Code, a repurchase bond covering the repurchase of a Loan for which
mortgage insurance or hazard insurance coverage has been denied due to
misrepresentations in connection with the origination of the related Loan, or
other insurance covering other risks associated with the particular type of
Loan. See "Description of Mortgage and Other Insurance."
Copies of the actual pool insurance policy, special hazard insurance
policy, bankruptcy bond or repurchase bond, if any, relating to the Loans
comprising the Primary Assets for a series will be filed with the Commission
as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed within 15 days of
issuance of the Securities of the related series.
Letter of Credit
The letter of credit, if any, with respect to a series of Securities will
be issued by the bank or financial institution specified in the prospectus
supplement (the "L/C Bank"). Under the letter of credit, the L/C Bank will be
obligated to honor drawings thereunder in an aggregate fixed dollar amount,
net of unreimbursed payments thereunder, equal to the percentage specified in
the prospectus supplement of the aggregate principal balance of the Loans on
the related Cut-off Date or of one or more classes of Securities (the "L/C
Percentage"). If specified in the prospectus supplement, the letter of credit
may permit drawings in the event of losses not covered by insurance policies
or other credit support, such as losses arising from damage not covered by
standard hazard insurance policies, losses resulting from the bankruptcy of a
borrower and the application of certain provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, or
losses resulting from denial of insurance coverage due to misrepresentations
in connection with the origination of a Loan. The amount available under the
letter of credit will, in all cases, be reduced to the extent of the
unreimbursed payments thereunder. The obligations of the L/C Bank under the
letter of credit for each series of Securities will expire at the earlier of
the date specified in the prospectus supplement or the termination of the
trust fund. See "Description of the Securities -- Optional Termination" and
"The Agreements -- Termination." A copy of the letter of credit for a series,
if any, will be filed with the Commission as an exhibit to a Current Report on
Form 8-K to be filed within 15 days of issuance of the Securities of the
related series.
Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy
Credit support may be provided in the form of a financial guaranty
insurance policy by one or more insurance companies named in the prospectus
supplement. The financial guaranty insurance policy will guarantee, with
respect to one or more classes of Securities of the related series, timely
distributions of interest and full distributions of principal on the basis of
a schedule of principal distributions set forth in or determined in the manner
specified in the prospectus supplement. If specified in the prospectus
supplement, the financial guaranty insurance policy will also guarantee
against any payment made to a securityholder that is subsequently recovered as
a "voidable preference" payment under the Bankruptcy Code. A copy of the
financial guaranty insurance policy for a series, if any, will be filed with
the Commission as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with
the Commission within 15 days following the issuance of the Securities of the
related series.
Reserve Funds
One or more Reserve Funds may be established with respect to a series, in
which cash, a letter of credit, Eligible Reserve Fund Investments, a demand
note or a combination thereof, in the amounts specified in the prospectus
supplement will be deposited. The Reserve Funds for a series may also be
funded over time by depositing therein a specified amount of the distributions
received on the related Primary Assets as specified in the prospectus
supplement.
Amounts on deposit in any Reserve Fund for a series, together with the
reinvestment income thereon, will be applied by the trustee for the purposes,
in the manner, and to the extent specified in the prospectus supplement. A
Reserve Fund may be provided to increase the likelihood of timely payments of
principal of and interest on the Securities, if required as a condition to the
rating of the related series by each Rating Agency, or to reduce the
likelihood of special distributions with respect to any Multi-Class Series. If
specified in the prospectus supplement, Reserve Funds may be established to
provide limited protection, in an amount satisfactory to each Rating Agency,
against certain types of losses not covered by Insurance Policies or other
credit support, such as losses arising from damage not covered by standard
hazard insurance policies, losses resulting from the bankruptcy of a borrower
and the application of certain provisions of the Bankruptcy Code or losses
resulting from denial of insurance coverage due to fraud or misrepresentation
in connection with the origination of a Loan. Following each Distribution Date
amounts in the Reserve Fund in excess of any required Reserve Fund balance may
be released from the Reserve Fund under the conditions and to the extent
specified in the prospectus supplement and will not be available for further
application by the trustee.
Moneys deposited in any Reserve Funds will be invested in Eligible
Reserve Fund Investments, except as otherwise specified in the prospectus
supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, any
reinvestment income or other gain from the investments will be credited to the
related Reserve Fund for the series, and any loss resulting from the
investments will be charged to the Reserve Fund. However, this income may be
payable to the master servicer or a servicer as additional servicing
compensation. See "Servicing of Loans" and "The Agreements -- Investment of
Funds." The Reserve Fund, if any, for a series will not be a part of the trust
fund unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement.
Additional information concerning any Reserve Fund will be set forth in
the prospectus supplement, including the initial balance of the Reserve Fund,
the required Reserve Fund balance to be maintained, the purposes for which
funds in the Reserve Fund may be applied to make distributions to
securityholders and use of investment earnings from the Reserve Fund, if any.
Description of Mortgage and Other Insurance
The following descriptions of primary mortgage insurance policies, pool
insurance policies, special hazard insurance policies, standard hazard
insurance policies, bankruptcy bonds, repurchase bonds and other insurance and
the respective coverages thereunder are general descriptions only and do not
purport to be complete. If specified in the prospectus supplement, insurance
may be structured so as to protect against losses relating to more than one
trust fund in the manner described therein.
Mortgage Insurance on the Loans
General
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, all Mortgage
Loans that are Conventional Loans secured by Single Family Property and which
had initial Loan-to-Value Ratios of greater than 80% will be covered by
primary mortgage insurance policies providing coverage with respect to the
amount of each Mortgage Loan in excess of 75% of the original Appraised Value
of the related Mortgaged Property and remaining in force until the principal
balance of the Mortgage Loan is reduced to 80% of the original Appraised
Value.
A pool insurance policy will be obtained if specified in the prospectus
supplement to cover any loss (subject to limitations described in this
prospectus) occurring as a result of default by the borrowers to the extent
not covered by any primary mortgage insurance policy or FHA Insurance. See
"Pool Insurance Policy" below. Neither the primary mortgage insurance policies
nor any pool insurance policy will insure against certain losses sustained in
the event of a personal bankruptcy of the borrower under a Mortgage Loan. See
"Legal Aspects of Loans." These losses will be covered to the extent described
in the prospectus supplement by the bankruptcy bond or other credit support,
if any.
To the extent that the primary mortgage insurance policies do not cover
all losses on a defaulted or foreclosed Mortgage Loan, and to the extent these
losses are not covered by the pool insurance policy or other credit support
for the related series, any losses would affect payments to securityholders.
In addition, the pool insurance policy and primary mortgage insurance policies
do not provide coverage against hazard losses. See "Hazard Insurance on the
Loans" below. Certain hazard risks will not be insured and the occurrence of
hazards could adversely affect payments to securityholders.
Primary Mortgage Insurance
Although the terms and conditions of primary mortgage insurance vary, the
amount of a claim for benefits under a primary mortgage insurance policy
covering a Mortgage Loan (referred to as the "Insured Loss") generally will
consist of the insured percentage (typically ranging from 12% to 25%) of the
unpaid principal amount of the covered Mortgage Loan and accrued and unpaid
interest thereon and reimbursement of certain expenses, less:
o all rents or other payments collected or received by the insured
(other than the proceeds of hazard insurance) that are derived from or
in any way related to the Mortgaged Property;
o hazard insurance proceeds in excess of the amount required to restore
the mortgaged property and which have not been applied to the payment
of the Mortgage Loan;
o amounts expended but not approved by the mortgage insurer;
o claim payments previously made by the mortgage insurer; and
o unpaid premiums.
Primary mortgage insurance policies reimburse certain losses sustained by
reason of defaults in payments by borrowers. Primary mortgage insurance
policies will not insure against, and exclude from coverage, a loss sustained
by reason of a default arising from or involving certain matters, including:
o fraud or negligence in origination or servicing of the Mortgage Loans,
including misrepresentation by the originator, borrower or other
persons involved in the origination of the Mortgage Loan;
o failure to construct the Mortgaged Property subject to the Mortgage
Loan in accordance with specified plans;
o physical damage to the Mortgaged Property; and
o the related servicer not being approved as a servicer by the mortgage
insurer.
Primary mortgage insurance policies generally contain provisions
substantially as follows: (1) under the policy, a claim includes unpaid
principal, accrued interest at the applicable loan interest rate to the date
of filing of a claim thereunder and certain advances (with a limitation on
attorneys' fees for foreclosures of 3% of the unpaid principal balance and
accumulated delinquent interest) described below; (2) when a claim is
presented, the mortgage insurer will have the option of paying the claim in
full and taking title to the property and arranging for the sale thereof or
paying the insured percentage of the claim and allowing the insured to retain
title to the property; (3) unless earlier directed by the mortgage insurer,
claims must be made within a specified period of time (typically, 60 days)
after the insured has acquired good and marketable title to the property; and
(4) a claim must be paid within a specific period of time (typically, 60 days)
after the claim is accepted by the mortgage insurer.
As conditions precedent to the filing of or payment of a claim under a
primary mortgage insurance policy covering a Mortgage Loan, the insured will
be required to:
o advance or discharge all hazard insurance policy premiums, and as
necessary and approved in advance by the mortgage insurer, (1) real
estate property taxes, (2) all expenses required to maintain the
related Mortgaged Property in at least as good a condition as existed
at the effective date of the primary mortgage insurance policy,
ordinary wear and tear excepted, (3) Mortgaged Property sales
expenses, (4) any outstanding liens (as defined in the primary
mortgage insurance policy) on the Mortgaged Property and (5)
foreclosure costs, including court costs and reasonable attorneys'
fees;
o in the event of any physical loss or damage to the Mortgaged Property,
restore and repair the Mortgaged Property to at least as good a
condition as existed at the effective date of the primary mortgage
insurance policy, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and
o tender to the mortgage insurer good and marketable title to and
possession of the Mortgaged Property.
Other provisions and conditions of each primary mortgage insurance policy
covering a Mortgage Loan will generally include that:
o no change may be made in the terms of the Mortgage Loan without the
consent of the mortgage insurer;
o written notice must be given to the mortgage insurer within 10 days
after the insured becomes aware that a borrower is delinquent in the
payment of a sum equal to the aggregate of two Scheduled Payments due
under the Mortgage Loan or that any proceedings affecting the
borrower's interest in the Mortgaged Property securing the Mortgage
Loan have been commenced, and thereafter the insured must report
monthly to the mortgage insurer the status of any Mortgage Loan until
the Mortgage Loan is brought current, the proceedings are terminated
or a claim is filed;
o the mortgage insurer will have the right to purchase the Mortgage
Loan, at any time subsequent to the 10 days' notice described above
and prior to the commencement of foreclosure proceedings, at a price
equal to the unpaid principal amount of the Mortgage Loan plus accrued
and unpaid interest thereon at the applicable Mortgage Rate and
reimbursable amounts expended by the insured for the real estate taxes
and fire and extended coverage insurance on the Mortgaged Property for
a period not exceeding 12 months and less the sum of any claim
previously paid under the policy with respect to the Mortgage Loan and
any due and unpaid premium with respect to the policy;
o the insured must commence proceedings at certain times specified in
the policy and diligently proceed to obtain good and marketable title
to and possession of the mortgaged property;
o the insured must notify the mortgage insurer of the institution of any
proceedings, provide it with copies of documents relating thereto,
notify the mortgage insurer of the price amounts specified above at
least 15 days prior to the sale of the Mortgaged Property by
foreclosure, and bid that amount unless the mortgage insurer specifies
a lower or higher amount; and
o the insured may accept a conveyance of the Mortgaged Property in lieu
of foreclosure with written approval of the mortgage insurer, provided
the ability of the insured to assign specified rights to the mortgage
insurer are not thereby impaired or the specified rights of the
mortgage insurer are not thereby adversely affected.
The mortgage insurer will be required to pay to the insured either: (1)
the insured percentage of the loss; or (2) at its option under certain of the
primary mortgage insurance policies, the sum of the delinquent Scheduled
Payments plus any advances made by the insured, both to the date of the claim
payment, and thereafter, Scheduled Payments in the amount that would have
become due under the Mortgage Loan if it had not been discharged plus any
advances made by the insured until the earlier of (a) the date the Mortgage
Loan would have been discharged in full if the default had not occurred, or
(b) an approved sale. Any rents or other payments collected or received by the
insured that are derived from or are in any way related to the mortgaged
property will be deducted from any claim payment.
FHA Insurance and VA Guaranty
The benefits of the FHA insurance and VA guaranty are limited, as
described below. To the extent that amounts payable under the applicable
policy are insufficient to cover losses in respect of the related Mortgage
Loan, any loss in excess of the applicable credit enhancement will be borne by
securityholders.
Under both the FHA and VA programs the master servicer or servicer must
follow certain prescribed procedures in submitting claims for payment. Failure
to follow procedures could result in delays in receipt of the amount of
proceeds collected in respect of any liquidated Mortgage Loan under the
applicable FHA insurance or VA guaranty ("FHA/VA Claim Proceeds") and
reductions in FHA/VA Claim Proceeds received.
FHA, a division of HUD, is responsible for administering federal mortgage
insurance programs authorized under the Federal Housing Act of 1934, as
amended, and the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended. FHA Mortgage
Loans are insured under various FHA programs including the standard FHA 203(b)
program to finance the acquisition of one- to four-family housing units and
the FHA 245 graduated payment mortgage program as well as to refinance an
existing insured mortgage. These programs generally limit the principal amount
of the mortgage loans insured. Mortgage loans originated prior to October 21,
1998, and insured by the FHA generally require a minimum down payment of
approximately 3% to 5% of the acquisition cost, which includes the lesser of
the appraised value or sales price, plus eligible closing costs, subject to a
maximum loan-to-value ratio of approximately 97%. Mortgage loans originated on
or after October 21, 1998, and insured by the FHA generally require a minimum
cash investment of 3% of the lesser of appraised value or sales price, subject
to a maximum loan-to-value ratio (generally, approximately 97.75%) that is
determined based on the loan amount and the state in which the mortgaged
property is located.
The monthly or periodic insurance premiums for FHA Mortgage Loans will be
collected by the master servicer or servicer and paid to FHA. The regulations
governing FHA single-family mortgage insurance programs provide that insurance
benefits are payable upon foreclosure (or other acquisition or possession) and
in general, conveyance of the mortgaged property to HUD. With respect to a
defaulted FHA Mortgage Loan, a master servicer or servicer is limited in its
ability to initiate foreclosure proceedings. When it is determined by a master
servicer or servicer or HUD that default was caused by circumstances beyond
the borrower's control, the master servicer or servicer is expected to make an
effort to avoid foreclosure by entering, if feasible, into one of a number of
available forms of forbearance plans with the borrower. Relief may involve the
reduction or suspension of Scheduled Payments for a specified period, which
payments are to be made up on or before the maturity date of the Mortgage
Loan, or the rescheduling or other adjustment of payments due under the
Mortgage Loan up to or beyond the scheduled maturity date. In addition, when a
default caused by specified circumstances is accompanied by certain other
factors, HUD may provide relief by making payments to a master servicer or
servicer in partial or full satisfaction of amounts due under the Mortgage
Loan (which payments, under certain circumstances, are to be repaid by the
borrower to HUD). With certain exceptions, at least three full installments
must be due and unpaid under the Mortgage Loan before a master servicer or
servicer may initiate foreclosure proceedings.
HUD terminated its assignment program for borrowers, effective April 25,
1996. Borrowers who did not request the assignment of their mortgage to HUD
prior to that date are ineligible for consideration. Under this terminated
program, HUD previously accepted assignment of defaulted mortgages and paid
insurance benefits to lenders. The program was available only to eligible
borrowers whose default was caused by circumstances beyond their control.
On March 20, 1998, an Illinois Federal District Court in Ferrell v.
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (N.D. Ill. (No. 73C
334)) granted a preliminary injunction requiring HUD to reinstate the
assignment program or an equivalent substitute. Plaintiffs in Ferrell have
alleged that HUD is required to maintain the program pursuant to the terms of
prior court order. It is difficult to assess what effect, if any, the final
outcome of the Ferrell litigation will have on FHA claim policies or
procedures and what effect changes in these policies or procedures, if any are
made, will have on the servicing of FHA Mortgage Loans.
HUD has the option, in most cases, to pay insurance claims in cash or in
debentures issued by HUD. Current practice is to pay claims in cash, and
claims have not been paid in debentures since 1965. HUD debentures issued in
satisfaction of FHA insurance claims bear interest at the applicable HUD
debenture interest rate. The related master servicer or servicer will be
obligated to purchase any such debenture issued in satisfaction of a defaulted
FHA Mortgage Loan for an amount equal to the principal balance of the
debenture.
The amount of insurance benefits generally paid by the FHA is equal to
the unpaid principal balance of the defaulted mortgage loan, plus amounts to
reimburse the mortgagee for certain costs and expenses, less certain amounts
received or retained by the mortgagee after default. When entitlement to
insurance benefits results from foreclosure (or other acquisition of
possession) and conveyance to HUD, the mortgagee is compensated for no more
than two-thirds of its foreclosure costs, and for interest accrued and unpaid
from a date 60 days after the borrower's first uncorrected failure to perform
any obligation or make any payment due under the mortgage loan and, upon
assignment, interest from the date of assignment to the date of payment of the
claim, in each case at the applicable HUD debenture interest rate, provided
all applicable HUD requirements have been met.
Although FHA insurance proceeds include accrued and unpaid interest on
the defaulted mortgage loan, the amount of interest paid may be substantially
less than accrued interest. As described above, FHA will reimburse interest at
the applicable debenture interest rate, which will generally be lower than the
Mortgage Rate on the related Mortgage Loan. Negative interest spread between
the debenture rate and the Mortgage Rate, as well as the failure of FHA
insurance to cover the first 60 days of accrued and unpaid interest and all
foreclosure expenses as described above, could result in losses to
securityholders. The interest payable may be curtailed if a master servicer or
servicer has not met FHA's timing requirements for certain actions during the
foreclosure and conveyance process. When a master servicer or servicer exceeds
the timing requirements and has not obtained an extension from FHA, FHA will
pay interest only to the date the particular action should have been
completed.
VA Mortgage Loans are partially guaranteed by the VA under the
Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, as amended, which permits a veteran (or
in certain instances the spouse of a veteran) to obtain a mortgage loan
guaranty by the VA covering mortgage financing of the purchase of a one- to
four-family dwelling unit or to refinance an existing guaranteed loan. The
program requires no down payment from the purchaser and permits the guarantee
of mortgage loans of up to 30 years' duration. The maximum guaranty that may
be issued by the VA under a VA guaranteed mortgage loan depends upon the
original principal balance of the mortgage loan. At present, the maximum
guaranty that may be issued by the VA under a VA guaranteed mortgage loan is
50% of the unpaid principal balance of a loan of $45,000 or less, $22,500 for
any loan of more than $45,000 but less than $56,250, to the lesser of $36,000
or 40% of the principal balance of a loan of $56,251 to $144,000, and, for
loans of more than $144,000, the lesser of 25% of the principal balance of the
mortgage loan or $50,750.
With respect to a defaulted VA guaranteed mortgage loan, the mortgagee
is, absent exceptional circumstances, authorized to foreclose only after the
default has continued for three months. Generally, a claim for the guarantee
is submitted after foreclosure and after the filing with the VA by the
mortgagee of a notice of election to convey the related mortgaged property to
the VA.
In instances where the net value of the mortgaged property securing a VA
guaranteed mortgage loan is less than the unguaranteed portion of the
indebtedness outstanding (including principal, accrued interest and certain
limited foreclosure costs and expenses) on the related mortgage loan, the VA
may notify the mortgagee that it will not accept conveyance of the mortgaged
property (a "No-Bid"). In the case of a No-Bid, the VA will pay certain
guaranty benefits to the mortgagee and the mortgagee will generally take title
to and liquidate the mortgaged property. The guaranty benefits payable by the
VA in the case of a No-Bid will be an amount equal to the original guaranteed
amount or, if less, the initial guarantee percentage multiplied by the
outstanding indebtedness with respect to the defaulted mortgage loan. The
amount of the guarantee decreases pro rata with any decrease in the amount of
indebtedness (which may include accrued and unpaid interest and certain
expenses of the mortgagee, including foreclosure expenses) up to the amount
originally guaranteed.
When the mortgagee receives the VA's No-Bid instructions with respect to
a defaulted mortgage loan, the mortgagee has the right (but not the
obligation) to waive or satisfy a portion of the indebtedness outstanding with
respect to the defaulted mortgage loan by an amount that would cause the
unguaranteed portion of the indebtedness (including principal, accrued
interest and certain limited foreclosure costs and expenses) after giving
effect to the reduction to be less than the net value of the mortgaged
property securing the mortgage loan (a "Buydown"). In the case of a Buydown,
the VA will accept conveyance of the mortgaged property and the mortgagee will
suffer a loss to the extent of the indebtedness that was satisfied or waived
in order to effect the Buydown, in addition to any other losses resulting from
unreimbursed foreclosure costs and expenses and interest that may have accrued
beyond the applicable VA cut-off date.
In the event the VA elects a No-Bid, the amount paid by the VA cannot
exceed the original guaranteed amount or, if less, the initial guarantee
percentage multiplied by the outstanding indebtedness with respect to the
defaulted Mortgage Loan. The amount of the guarantee decreases pro rata with
any decrease in the amount of indebtedness, as described above. As a result of
these limitations, losses associated with defaulted VA Mortgage Loans could be
substantial.
Pool Insurance Policy
If specified in the prospectus supplement, the master servicer will be
required to maintain a pool insurance policy for the Loans in the trust fund
on behalf of the trustee and the securityholders. See "Servicing of Loans --
Maintenance of Insurance Policies and Other Servicing Procedures." Although
the terms and conditions of pool insurance policies vary to some degree, the
following describes material aspects of the policies generally.
The prospectus supplement will describe any provisions of a pool
insurance policy that are materially different from those described below. It
may also be a condition precedent to the payment of any claim under the pool
insurance policy that the insured maintain a primary mortgage insurance policy
that is acceptable to the pool insurer on all Mortgage Loans in the related
trust fund that have Loan-to-Value Ratios at the time of origination in excess
of 80% and that a claim under the primary mortgage insurance policy has been
submitted and settled. FHA Insurance and VA Guarantees may be deemed to be
acceptable primary insurance policies under the pool insurance policy.
Assuming satisfaction of these conditions, the pool insurer will pay to
the insured the amount of the loss which will generally be:
o the amount of the unpaid principal balance of the defaulted Mortgage
Loan immediately prior to the approved sale of the Mortgaged Property,
o the amount of the accumulated unpaid interest on the Mortgage Loan to
the date of claim settlement at the contractual rate of interest, and
o advances made by the insured as described above less certain payments.
An "approved sale" is:
o a sale of the Mortgaged Property acquired by the insured because of a
default by the borrower to which the pool insurer has given prior
approval,
o a foreclosure or trustee's sale of the Mortgaged Property at a price
exceeding the maximum amount specified by the pool insurer,
o the acquisition of the Mortgaged Property under the primary mortgage
insurance policy by the mortgage insurer, or
o the acquisition of the Mortgaged Property by the pool insurer.
As a condition precedent to the payment of any loss, the insured must
provide the pool insurer with good and marketable title to the Mortgaged
Property. If any Mortgaged Property securing a defaulted Mortgage Loan is
damaged and the proceeds, if any, from the related standard hazard insurance
policy or the applicable special hazard insurance policy, if any, are
insufficient to restore the damaged Mortgaged Property to a condition
sufficient to permit recovery under the pool insurance policy, the master
servicer will not be required to expend its own funds to restore the damaged
property unless it determines that the restoration will increase the proceeds
to the securityholders on liquidation of the Mortgage Loan after reimbursement
of the master servicer for its expenses and that the expenses will be
recoverable by it through liquidation proceeds or insurance proceeds.
The original amount of coverage under the mortgage pool insurance policy
will be reduced over the life of the Securities by the aggregate net dollar
amount of claims paid less the aggregate net dollar amount realized by the
pool insurer upon disposition of all foreclosed mortgaged properties covered
thereby. The amount of claims paid includes certain expenses incurred by the
master servicer as well as accrued interest at the applicable interest rate on
delinquent Mortgage Loans to the date of payment of the claim. See "Legal
Aspects of Loans." Accordingly, if aggregate net claims paid under a mortgage
pool insurance policy reach the original policy limit, coverage under the
mortgage pool insurance policy will lapse and any further losses will be borne
by the trust fund, and thus will affect adversely payments on the Securities.
In addition, the exhaustion of coverage under any mortgage pool insurance
policy may affect the master servicer's or servicer's willingness or
obligation to make Advances. If the master servicer or a servicer determines
that an Advance in respect of a delinquent Loan would not be recoverable from
the proceeds of the liquidation of the Loan or otherwise, it will not be
obligated to make an advance respecting any delinquency since the Advance
would not be ultimately recoverable by it. See "Servicing of Loans -- Advances
and Limitations Thereon."
Mortgage Insurance with Respect to Manufactured Home Loans
A Manufactured Home Loan may be an FHA Loan or a VA Loan. Any primary
mortgage or similar insurance and any pool insurance policy with respect to
Manufactured Home Loans will be described in the prospectus supplement.
Hazard Insurance on the Loans
Standard Hazard Insurance Policies
The standard hazard insurance policies will provide for coverage at least
equal to the applicable state standard form of fire insurance policy with
extended coverage for property of the type securing the related Loans. In
general, the standard form of fire and extended coverage policy will cover
physical damage to or destruction of, the improvements on the property caused
by fire, lightning, explosion, smoke, windstorm, hail, riot, strike and civil
commotion, subject to the conditions and exclusions particularized in each
policy. Because the standard hazard insurance policies relating to the Loans
will be underwritten by different hazard insurers and will cover properties
located in various states, the policies will not contain identical terms and
conditions. The basic terms, however, generally will be determined by state
law and generally will be similar. Most policies typically will not cover any
physical damage resulting from war, revolution, governmental actions, floods
and other water-related causes, earth movement (including earthquakes,
landslides, and mudflows), nuclear reaction, wet or dry rot, vermin, rodents,
insects or domestic animals, theft and, in certain cases, vandalism. The
foregoing list is merely indicative of certain kinds of uninsured risks and is
not intended to be all-inclusive. Uninsured risks not covered by a special
hazard insurance policy or other form of credit support will adversely affect
distributions to securityholders. When a property securing a Loan is located
in a flood area identified by HUD pursuant to the Flood Disaster Protection
Act of 1973, as amended, the master servicer will be required to cause flood
insurance to be maintained with respect to the property, to the extent
available.
The standard hazard insurance policies covering properties securing Loans
typically will contain a "coinsurance" clause which, in effect, will require
the insured at all times to carry hazard insurance of a specified percentage
(generally 80% to 90%) of the full replacement value of the dwellings,
structures and other improvements on the Mortgaged Property in order to
recover the full amount of any partial loss. If the insured's coverage falls
below this specified percentage, the clause will provide that the hazard
insurer's liability in the event of partial loss will not exceed the greater
of (1) the actual cash value (generally defined as the replacement cost at the
time and place of loss, less physical depreciation) of the dwellings,
structures and other improvements damaged or destroyed and (2) the proportion
of the loss, without deduction for depreciation, as the amount of insurance
carried bears to the specified percentage of the full replacement cost of the
dwellings, structures and other improvements on the Mortgaged Property. Since
the amount of hazard insurance to be maintained on the improvements securing
the Loans declines as the principal balances owing thereon decrease, and since
the value of residential real estate in the area where the Mortgaged Property
is located fluctuates in value over time, the effect of this requirement in
the event of partial loss may be that hazard insurance proceeds will be
insufficient to restore fully the damage to the Mortgaged Property.
The depositor will not require that a standard hazard or flood insurance
policy be maintained for any Cooperative Loan. Generally, the Cooperative is
responsible for maintenance of hazard insurance for the property owned by the
Cooperative and the tenant-stockholders of that Cooperative may not maintain
individual hazard insurance policies. To the extent, however, that either the
Cooperative or the related borrower do not maintain insurance, or do not
maintain adequate coverage, or do not apply any insurance proceeds to the
restoration of damaged property, then damage to the borrower's Cooperative
Dwelling or the Cooperative's building could significantly reduce the value of
the Mortgaged Property securing the related Cooperative Loan. Similarly, the
depositor will not require that a standard hazard or flood insurance policy be
maintained for any Condominium Loan. Generally, the Condominium Association is
responsible for maintenance of hazard insurance for the Condominium Building
(including the individual Condominium Units) and the owner(s) of an individual
Condominium Unit may not maintain separate hazard insurance policies. To the
extent, however, that either the Condominium Association or the related
borrower do not maintain insurance, or do not maintain adequate coverage, or
do not apply any insurance proceeds to the restoration of damaged property,
then damage to the borrower's Condominium Unit or the related Condominium
Building could significantly reduce the value of the Mortgaged Property
securing the related Condominium Loan.
Special Hazard Insurance Policy
Although the terms of the policies vary to some degree, a special hazard
insurance policy typically provides that, where there has been damage to
property securing a defaulted or foreclosed Loan (title to which has been
acquired by the insured) and to the extent the damage is not covered by the
standard hazard insurance policy or any flood insurance policy, if applicable,
required to be maintained with respect to the property, or in connection with
partial loss resulting from the application of the coinsurance clause in a
standard hazard insurance policy, the special hazard insurer will pay the
lesser of (1) the cost of repair or replacement of the property and (2) upon
transfer of the property to the special hazard insurer, the unpaid principal
balance of the Loan at the time of acquisition of the property by foreclosure
or deed in lieu of foreclosure, plus accrued interest to the date of claim
settlement and certain expenses incurred by the master servicer or the
servicer with respect to the property. If the unpaid principal balance plus
accrued interest and certain expenses is paid by the special hazard insurer,
the amount of further coverage under the special hazard insurance policy will
be reduced by that amount less any net proceeds from the sale of the property.
Any amount paid as the cost of repair of the property will reduce coverage by
that amount. Special hazard insurance policies typically do not cover losses
occasioned by war, civil insurrection, certain governmental actions, errors in
design, faulty workmanship or materials (except under certain circumstances),
nuclear reaction, flood (if the mortgaged property is in a federally
designated flood area), chemical contamination and certain other risks.
Restoration of the property with the proceeds described under (1) above
is expected to satisfy the condition under the pool insurance policy that the
property be restored before a claim under the pool insurance policy may be
validly presented with respect to the defaulted Loan secured by the property.
The payment described under (2) above will render unnecessary presentation of
a claim in respect of the Loan under the pool insurance policy. Therefore, so
long as the pool insurance policy remains in effect, the payment by the
special hazard insurer of the cost of repair or of the unpaid principal
balance of the related Loan plus accrued interest and certain expenses will
not affect the total insurance proceeds paid to holders of the Securities, but
will affect the relative amounts of coverage remaining under the special
hazard insurance policy and pool insurance policy.
Other Hazard-Related Insurance; Liability Insurance
With respect to Loans secured by Multifamily Property, certain additional
insurance policies may be required with respect to the Multifamily Property;
for example, general liability insurance for bodily injury or death and
property damage occurring on the property or the adjoining streets and
sidewalks, steam boiler coverage where a steam boiler or other pressure vessel
is in operation, interest coverage insurance, and rent loss insurance to cover
operating income losses following damage or destruction of the mortgaged
property. With respect to a series for which Loans secured by Multifamily
Property are included in the trust fund, the prospectus supplement will
specify the required types and amounts of additional insurance and describe
the general terms of the insurance and conditions to payment thereunder.
Bankruptcy Bond
In the event of a bankruptcy of a borrower, the bankruptcy court may
establish the value of the property securing the related Loan at an amount
less than the then outstanding principal balance of the Loan. The amount of
the secured debt could be reduced to that value, and the holder of the Loan
thus would become an unsecured creditor to the extent the outstanding
principal balance of the Loan exceeds the value so assigned to the property by
the bankruptcy court. In addition, certain other modifications of the terms of
a Loan can result from a bankruptcy proceeding. See "Legal Aspects of Loans."
If so provided in the prospectus supplement, the master servicer will obtain a
bankruptcy bond or similar insurance contract (the "bankruptcy bond") for
proceedings with respect to borrowers under the Bankruptcy Code. The
bankruptcy bond will cover certain losses resulting from a reduction by a
bankruptcy court of scheduled payments of principal of and interest on a Loan
or a reduction by the court of the principal amount of a Loan and will cover
certain unpaid interest on the amount of the principal reduction from the date
of the filing of a bankruptcy petition.
The bankruptcy bond will provide coverage in the aggregate amount
specified in the prospectus supplement for all Loans in the Pool secured by
single unit primary residences. This amount will be reduced by payments made
under the bankruptcy bond in respect of the Loans, unless otherwise specified
in the prospectus supplement, and will not be restored.
Repurchase Bond
If specified in the prospectus supplement, the depositor or master
servicer will be obligated to repurchase any Loan (up to an aggregate dollar
amount specified in the prospectus supplement) for which insurance coverage is
denied due to dishonesty, misrepresentation or fraud in connection with the
origination or sale of the Loan. This obligation may be secured by a surety
bond guaranteeing payment of the amount to be paid by the depositor or the
master servicer.
The Agreements
The following summaries describe certain material provisions of the
Agreements. The summaries do not purport to be complete and are subject to,
and qualified in their entirety by reference to, the provisions of the
Agreements. Where particular provisions or terms used in the Agreements are
referred to, these provisions or terms are as specified in the related
Agreement.
Issuance of Securities
Securities representing interests in a trust fund, or an Asset Group,
that the trustee will elect to have treated as a REMIC, a FASIT or a grantor
trust will be issued, and the related trust fund will be created, pursuant to
a trust agreement between the depositor and the trustee. A series of Notes
issued by a trust fund will be issued pursuant to an indenture between the
related trust fund and an indenture trustee named in the prospectus
supplement. In the case of a series of Notes, the trust fund and the depositor
will also enter into a sale and collection agreement with the indenture
trustee and the issuer.
As applicable, the trust agreement, in the case of Certificates, and the
indenture, together with the sale and collection agreement, in the case of
Notes, are referred to as the "Agreements." In the case of a series of Notes,
the trust fund will be established either as a statutory business trust under
the law of the state specified in the prospectus supplement or as a common law
trust under the law of the state specified in the prospectus supplement
pursuant to a deposit trust agreement between the depositor and an owner
trustee specified in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of
Notes. The Primary Assets of a trust fund will be serviced in accordance with
one or more underlying servicing agreements.
Assignment of Primary Assets
General
At the time of issuance, the depositor will transfer, convey and assign
to the trustee all right, title and interest of the depositor in the Primary
Assets and other property to be included in the trust fund for a series. The
assignment will include all principal and interest due on or with respect to
the Primary Assets after the Cut-off Date specified in the prospectus
supplement (except for any Retained Interests). The trustee will, concurrently
with the assignment, execute and deliver the Securities.
Assignment of Private Mortgage-Backed Securities
The depositor will cause the Private Mortgage-Backed Securities to be
registered in the name of the trustee or its nominee or correspondent. The
trustee or its nominee or correspondent will have possession of any
certificated Private Mortgage-Backed Securities. Unless otherwise specified in
the prospectus supplement, the trustee will not be in possession of or be
assignee of record of any underlying assets for a Private Mortgage-Backed
Security. See "The Trust Funds -- Private Mortgage-Backed Securities."
Each Private Mortgage-Backed Security will be identified in a schedule
appearing as an exhibit to the related Agreement (the "Mortgage Certificate
Schedule"), which will specify the original principal amount, outstanding
principal balance as of the Cut-off Date, annual pass-through rate or interest
rate and maturity date for each Private Mortgage-Backed Security conveyed to
the trustee. In the Agreement, the depositor will represent and warrant to the
trustee regarding the Private Mortgage-Backed Securities:
(1) that the information contained in the Mortgage Certificate
Schedule is true and correct in all material respects;
(2) that, immediately prior to the conveyance of the Private
Mortgage-Backed Securities, the depositor had good title thereto,
and was the sole owner thereof, (subject to any Retained Interests);
(3) that there has been no other sale by it of the Private
Mortgage-Backed Securities; and
(4) that there is no existing lien, charge, security interest or
other encumbrance (other than any Retained Interest) on the Private
Mortgage-Backed Securities.
Assignment of Mortgage Loans
As specified in the prospectus supplement, the depositor will, as to each
Mortgage Loan, deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee, or a custodian
on behalf of the trustee:
o the mortgage note endorsed without recourse to the order of the
trustee or in blank;
o the original Mortgage with evidence of recording indicated thereon
(except for any Mortgage not returned from the public recording
office, in which case a copy of the Mortgage will be delivered,
together with a certificate that the original of the Mortgage was
delivered to the recording office); and
o an assignment of the Mortgage in recordable form.
The trustee, or the custodian, will hold the documents in trust for the
benefit of the securityholders.
If so specified in the prospectus supplement, the depositor will, at the
time of delivery of the Securities, cause assignments to the trustee of the
Mortgage Loans to be recorded in the appropriate public office for real
property records, except in states where, in the opinion of counsel acceptable
to the trustee, recording is not required to protect the trustee's interest in
the Mortgage Loan. If specified in the prospectus supplement, the depositor
will cause the assignments to be so recorded within the time after delivery of
the Securities as is specified in the prospectus supplement, in which event,
the Agreement may, as specified in the prospectus supplement, require the
depositor to repurchase from the trustee any Mortgage Loan required to be
recorded but not recorded within that time, at the price described below with
respect to repurchase by reason of defective documentation. Unless otherwise
provided in the prospectus supplement, the enforcement of the repurchase
obligation would constitute the sole remedy available to the securityholders
or the trustee for the failure of a Mortgage Loan to be recorded.
With respect to any Cooperative Loans, the depositor will cause to be
delivered to the trustee, its agent, or a custodian, the related original
cooperative note endorsed to the order of the trustee, the original security
agreement, the proprietary lease or occupancy agreement, the recognition
agreement, an executed financing agreement and the relevant stock certificate
and related blank stock powers. The depositor will file in the appropriate
office an assignment and a financing statement evidencing the trustee's
security interest in each Cooperative Loan.
The trustee, its agent, or a custodian will review the documents relating
to each Mortgage Loan within the time period specified in the related
Agreement after receipt thereof, and the trustee will hold the documents in
trust for the benefit of the securityholders. Unless otherwise specified in
the prospectus supplement, if any document is found to be missing or defective
in any material respect, the trustee (or the custodian) will notify the master
servicer and the depositor, and the master servicer will notify the party (the
"Seller") from which the depositor, or an affiliate thereof, purchased the
Mortgage Loan.
If the Seller cannot cure the omission or defect within the time period
specified in the related Agreement after receipt of notice, the Seller will be
obligated to purchase the related Mortgage Loan from the trustee at the
Purchase Price or, if specified in the prospectus supplement, replace the
Mortgage Loan with another mortgage loan that meets certain requirements set
forth therein. We cannot assure you that a Seller will fulfill this purchase
obligation. Although the master servicer may be obligated to enforce the
obligation to the extent described above under "Loan Underwriting Procedures
and Standards -- Representations and Warranties," neither the master servicer
nor the depositor will be obligated to purchase the Mortgage Loan if the
Seller defaults on its purchase obligation, unless the breach also constitutes
a breach of the representations or warranties of the master servicer or the
depositor, as the case may be. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus
supplement, this purchase obligation constitutes the sole remedy available to
the securityholders or the trustee for omission of, or a material defect in,
any document.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, with respect to a trust fund
for which a REMIC or a FASIT election is to be made, unless the prospectus
supplement otherwise provides, no purchase of a Mortgage Loan will be made if
the purchase would result in a prohibited transaction under the Code.
Each Mortgage Loan will be identified in a schedule appearing as an
exhibit to the related Agreement (the "Mortgage Loan Schedule"). The Mortgage
Loan Schedule will specify the number of Mortgage Loans that are Cooperative
Loans and, with respect to each Mortgage Loan: the original principal amount
and unpaid principal balance as of the Cut-off Date; the current interest
rate; the current Scheduled Payment of principal and interest; the maturity
date of the related mortgage note; if the Mortgage Loan is an ARM, the
Lifetime Mortgage Rate Cap, if any, and the current Index; and, if the
Mortgage Loan is a GPM Loan, a GEM Loan, a Buy-Down Loan or a Mortgage Loan
with other than fixed Scheduled Payments and level amortization, the terms
thereof.
Assignment of Manufactured Home Loans
The depositor will cause any Manufactured Home Loans included in the
Primary Assets for a series of Securities to be assigned to the trustee,
together with principal and interest due on or with respect to the
Manufactured Home Loans after the Cut-off Date specified in the prospectus
supplement. Each Manufactured Home Loan will be identified in a loan schedule
(the "Manufactured Home Loan Schedule") appearing as an exhibit to the related
Agreement. The Manufactured Home Loan Schedule will specify, with respect to
each Manufactured Home Loan, among other things: the original principal
balance and the outstanding principal balance as of the close of business on
the Cut-off Date; the interest rate; the current Scheduled Payment of
principal and interest; and the maturity date of the Manufactured Home Loan.
In addition, with respect to each Manufactured Home Loan, the depositor
will deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee, or, as specified in the
prospectus supplement, the custodian, the original Manufactured Home Loan
agreement and copies of documents and instruments related to each Manufactured
Home Loan and the security interest in the Manufactured Home securing each
Manufactured Home Loan. To give notice of the right, title and interest of the
securityholders to the Manufactured Home Loans, the depositor will cause a
UCC-1 financing statement to be filed identifying the trustee as the secured
party and identifying all Manufactured Home Loans as collateral. Unless
otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the Manufactured Home Loans
agreements will not be stamped or otherwise marked to reflect their assignment
from the depositor to the trustee. Therefore, if a subsequent purchaser were
able to take physical possession of the Manufactured Home Loans agreements
without notice of the assignment, the interest of the securityholders in the
Manufactured Home Loans could be defeated. See "Legal Aspects of Loans --
Manufactured Home Loans."
Assignment of Participation Certificates
The depositor will cause any certificates evidencing a participation
interest in a Loan or a pool of loans ("Participation Certificates") obtained
under a participation agreement to be assigned to the trustee by delivering to
the trustee the Participation Certificates, which will be reregistered in the
name of the trustee. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement,
the trustee will not be in possession of or be assignee of record with respect
to the Loans represented by any Participation Certificate. Each Participation
Certificate will be identified in a "Participation Certificate Schedule" which
will specify the original principal balance, outstanding principal balance as
of the Cut-off Date, pass-through rate and maturity date for each
Participation Certificate. In the related Agreement, the depositor will
represent and warrant to the trustee regarding each Participation Certificate:
o that the information contained in the Participation Certificate
Schedule is true and correct in all material respects;
o that, immediately prior to the conveyance of the Participation
Certificates, the depositor had good title to and was sole owner of
the Participation Certificates;
o that there has been no other sale by it of the Participation
Certificates; and
o that the Participation Certificates are not subject to any existing
lien, charge, security interest or other encumbrance (other than any
Retained Interests).
Repurchase and Substitution of Non-Conforming Loans
Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, if any document
in the Loan file delivered by the depositor to the trustee is found by the
trustee within 45 days of the execution of the related Agreement, or any other
time period specified in the prospectus supplement for the related series, (or
promptly after the trustee's receipt of any document permitted to be delivered
after the closing date of the issuance of the series) to be defective in any
material respect and the depositor does not cure the defect within 90 days, or
any other period specified in the prospectus supplement, the depositor will,
not later than 90 days, or any other period specified in the prospectus
supplement, after the trustee's notice to the depositor or the master
servicer, as the case may be, of the defect, repurchase the related Mortgage
Loan or any property acquired in respect thereof from the trustee.
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the repurchase
price will be generally equal to (a) the lesser of (1) the outstanding
principal balance of the Mortgage Loan (or, in the case of a foreclosed
Mortgage Loan, the outstanding principal balance of the Mortgage Loan
immediately prior to foreclosure) and (2) the trust fund's federal income tax
basis in the Mortgage Loan, and (b), accrued and unpaid interest to the date
of the next scheduled payment on the Mortgage Loan at the related Interest
Rate (less any unreimbursed Advances respecting the Mortgage Loan), provided,
however, the purchase price will not be limited in (1) above to the trust
fund's federal income tax basis if the repurchase at a price equal to the
outstanding principal balance of the Mortgage Loan will not result in any
prohibited transaction tax under Section 860F(a) of the Code.
If provided in the prospectus supplement, the depositor may, rather than
repurchase the Loan as described above, remove the Loan from the trust fund
(the "Deleted Loan") and substitute in its place one or more other Loans
(each, a "Qualifying Substitute Mortgage Loan") provided, however, that (1)
with respect to a trust fund for which no REMIC election is made, the
substitution must be effected within 120 days of the date of initial issuance
of the Securities and (2) with respect to a trust fund for which a REMIC
election is made, the substitution must be made within two years of the date.
Any Qualifying Substitute Mortgage Loan will have, on the date of
substitution, the characteristics specified in the applicable Agreement,
generally including (1) an outstanding principal balance, after deduction of
all Scheduled Payments due in the month of substitution, not in excess of the
outstanding principal balance of the Deleted Loan (the amount of any shortfall
to be deposited to the Distribution Account in the month of substitution for
distribution to securityholders), (2) an interest rate not less than (and not
more than 2% greater than) the interest rate of the Deleted Loan, (3) a
remaining term-to-stated maturity not greater than (and not more than two
years less than) that of the Deleted Loan, and will comply with all of the
representations and warranties set forth in the applicable agreement as of the
date of substitution.
Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, the
above-described cure, repurchase or substitution obligations constitute the
sole remedies available to the securityholders or the trustee for a material
defect in a Loan document.
The depositor or another entity will make representations and warranties
with respect to Loans that comprise the Primary Assets for a series. See "Loan
Underwriting Procedures and Standards -- Representations and Warranties"
above. If the depositor or such entity cannot cure a breach of any
representations and warranties in all material respects within 90 days after
notification by the trustee of the breach, and if the breach is of a nature
that materially and adversely affects the value of the Loan, the depositor or
such entity is obligated to repurchase the affected Loan or, if provided in
the prospectus supplement, provide a Qualifying Substitute Mortgage Loan
therefor, subject to the same conditions and limitations on purchases and
substitutions as described above. The depositor's only source of funds to
effect any cure, repurchase or substitution will be through the enforcement of
the corresponding obligations of the responsible originator or seller of the
Loans.
Reports to Securityholders
The trustee will prepare and forward to each securityholder on each
Distribution Date, or as soon thereafter as is practicable, a statement
setting forth, to the extent applicable to any series, among other things:
(1) with respect to a series (a) other than a Multi-Class Series,
the amount of the distribution allocable to principal on the Primary
Assets, separately identifying the aggregate amount of any principal
prepayments included therein and the amount, if any, advanced by the
master servicer or by a servicer or (b) that is a Multi-Class
Series, the amount of the principal distribution in reduction of
stated principal amount (or Compound Value) of each class and the
aggregate unpaid principal amount (or Compound Value) of each class
following the distribution;
(2) with respect to a series (a) other than a Multi-Class Series,
the amount of the distribution allocable to interest on the Primary
Assets and the amount, if any, advanced by the master servicer or a
servicer or (b) that is not a Multi-Class Series, the amount of the
interest distribution;
(3) the amount of servicing compensation with respect to the
Principal Assets and paid during the Due Period commencing on the
Due Date to which the distribution relates and the amount of
servicing compensation during that period attributable to penalties
and fees;
(4) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Principal
Assets as of the opening of business on the Due Date, after giving
effect to distributions allocated to principal and reported under
(1) above;
(5) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Securities of
the related series as of the Due Date, after giving effect to
distributions allocated to principal reported under (1) above;
(6) with respect to Compound Interest Securities, prior to the
Accrual Termination Date in addition to the information specified in
(1)(b) above, the amount of interest accrued on the Securities
during the related interest accrual period and added to the Compound
Value thereof;
(7) in the case of Floating Rate Securities, the Floating Rate
applicable to the distribution being made;
(8) if applicable, the amount of any shortfall (i.e., the difference
between the aggregate amounts of principal and interest which
securityholders would have received if there were sufficient
eligible funds in the Distribution Account and the amounts actually
distributed);
(9) if applicable, the number and aggregate principal balances of
Loans delinquent for (A) two consecutive payments and (B) three or
more consecutive payments, as of the close of the business on the
determination date to which the distribution relates;
(10) if applicable, the value of any REO Property acquired on behalf
of securityholders through foreclosure, grant of a deed in lieu of
foreclosure or repossession as of the close of the business on the
Business Day preceding the Distribution Date to which the
distribution relates;
(11) the amount of any withdrawal from any applicable reserve fund
included in amounts actually distributed to securityholders and the
remaining balance of each reserve fund (including any Subordinated
Reserve Fund), if any, on the Distribution Date, after giving effect
to distributions made on that date; and
(12) any other information as specified in the related Agreement.
In addition, within a reasonable period of time after the end of each
calendar year the trustee, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus
supplement, will furnish to each securityholder of record at any time during
the calendar year: (a) the aggregate of amounts reported pursuant to (1)
through (4), (6) and (8) above for the calendar year and (b) the information
specified in the related Agreement to enable securityholders to prepare their
tax returns including, without limitation, the amount of original issue
discount accrued on the Securities, if applicable. Information in the
Distribution Date and annual reports provided to the securityholders will not
have been examined and reported upon by an independent public accountant.
However, the master servicer will provide to the trustee a report by
independent public accountants with respect to the master servicer's servicing
of the Loans. See "Servicing of Loans -- Evidence as to Compliance."
Investment of Funds
The Distribution Account, Collection Account or Custodial Account, if
any, and any other funds and accounts for a series that may be invested by the
trustee or by the master servicer (or by the servicer, if any), can be
invested only in "Eligible Investments" acceptable to each Rating Agency,
which may include, without limitation:
o direct obligations of, and obligations fully guaranteed as to timely
payment of principal and interest by, the United States of America,
Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or any agency or instrumentality of the United
States of America, the obligations of which are backed by the full
faith and credit of the United States of America;
o demand and time deposits, certificates of deposit or bankers'
acceptances;
o repurchase obligations pursuant to a written agreement with respect to
any security described in the first clause above;
o securities bearing interest or sold at a discount issued by any
corporation incorporated under the laws of the United States of
America or any state;
o commercial paper (including both non-interest-bearing discount
obligations and interest-bearing obligations payable on demand or on a
specified date not more than one year after the date of issuance
thereof);
o a guaranteed investment contract issued by an entity having a credit
rating acceptable to each Rating Agency; and
o any other demand, money market or time deposit or obligation, security
or investment as would not adversely affect the then current rating by
the Rating Agencies.
Funds held in a reserve fund or Subordinated Reserve Fund may be invested
in certain eligible reserve fund investments which may include Eligible
Investments, mortgage loans, mortgage pass-through or participation
securities, mortgage-backed bonds or notes or other investments to the extent
specified in the prospectus supplement ("Eligible Reserve Fund Investments").
Eligible Investments or Eligible Reserve Fund Investments with respect to
a series will include only obligations or securities that mature on or before
the date on which the amounts in the Collection Account are required to be
remitted to the trustee and amounts in the Distribution Account, any Reserve
Fund or the Subordinated Reserve Fund for the related series are required or
may be anticipated to be required to be applied for the benefit of
securityholders of the series.
If so provided in the prospectus supplement, the reinvestment income from
the Subordination Reserve Fund, other Reserve Fund, Servicing Account,
Collection Account or the Distribution Account may be property of the master
servicer or a servicer and not available for distributions to securityholders.
See "Servicing of Loans."
Event of Default; Rights Upon Event of Default
Trust Agreement
As specified in the prospectus supplement, events of default under the
trust agreement for a series of Certificates include:
o any failure by the master servicer or servicer to distribute or remit
any required payment that continues unremedied for five business days
(or any shorter period as is specified in the applicable agreement)
after the giving of written notice of the failure to the master
servicer or servicer by the trustee for the related series, or to the
master servicer or servicer and the trustee by the holders of
Certificates of the series evidencing not less than a specified
percentage of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Certificates for the series;
o any failure by the master servicer or servicer duly to observe or
perform in any material respect any other of its covenants or
agreements in the trust agreement that continues unremedied for a
specified number of days after the giving of written notice of the
failure to the master servicer or servicer by the trustee, or to the
master servicer or servicer and the trustee by the holders of
Certificates of the related series evidencing not less than 25% of the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Certificates; and
o certain events in insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshalling of
assets and liabilities or similar proceedings and certain actions by
the master servicer or servicer indicating its insolvency,
reorganization or inability to pay its obligations.
So long as an Event of Default remains unremedied under the trust
agreement for a series, the trustee for the related series or holders of
Certificates of the series evidencing not less than a specified percentage of
the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Certificates for the series
may terminate all of the rights and obligations of the master servicer as
servicer under the trust agreement and in and to the Mortgage Loans (other
than its right to recovery of other expenses and amounts advanced pursuant to
the terms of the trust agreement which rights the master servicer will retain
under all circumstances), whereupon the trustee will succeed to all the
responsibilities, duties and liabilities of the master servicer under the
trust agreement and will be entitled to reasonable servicing compensation not
to exceed the applicable servicing fee, together with other servicing
compensation in the form of assumption fees, late payment charges or otherwise
as provided in the trust agreement.
In the event that the trustee is unwilling or unable so to act, it may
select, or petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint, a housing
and home finance institution, bank or mortgage servicing institution with a
net worth of at least $15,000,000 to act as successor master servicer under
the provisions of the trust agreement relating to the servicing of the
Mortgage Loans. The successor master servicer would be entitled to reasonable
servicing compensation in an amount not to exceed the Servicing Fee as set
forth in the prospectus supplement, together with the other servicing
compensation in the form of assumption fees, late payment charges or
otherwise, as provided in the trust agreement.
During the continuance of any event of default under the trust agreement
for a series, the trustee for that series will have the right to take action
to enforce its rights and remedies and to protect and enforce the rights and
remedies of the Certificateholders of that series, and holders of Certificates
evidencing not less than a specified percentage of the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Certificates for that series may direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred upon that trustee. However,
the trustee will not be under any obligation to pursue any remedy or to
exercise any of the trusts or powers unless the Certificateholders have
offered the trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the cost,
expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by the trustee therein or
thereby. Also, the trustee may decline to follow the direction if the trustee
determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken
or would involve it in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the
non-assenting Certificateholders.
No holder of a series of Certificates, solely by virtue of that holder's
status as a Certificateholder, will have any right under the trust agreement
for the related series to institute any proceeding with respect to the trust
agreement, unless that holder previously has given to the trustee for that
series written notice of default and unless the holders of Certificates
evidencing not less than a specified percentage of the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Certificates for that series have made written request
upon the trustee to institute a proceeding in its own name as trustee
thereunder and have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity, and the
trustee for a specified number of days has neglected or refused to institute
such a proceeding.
Indenture
As specified in the prospectus supplement, events of default under the
indenture for each series of Notes generally include:
o a default for a specified number of days in the payment of any
interest or installment of principal on a Note of that series, to the
extent specified in the prospectus supplement, or the default in the
payment of the principal of any Note at the Note's maturity;
o failure to perform in any material respect any other covenant of the
trust in the indenture that continues for a specified number of days
after notice is given in accordance with the procedures described in
the prospectus supplement;
o any failure to observe or perform any covenant or agreement of the
trust, or any representation or warranty made by the trust in the
indenture or in any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant or
in connection with the series having been incorrect in a material
respect as of the time made, and that breach is not cured within a
specified number of days after notice is given in accordance with the
procedures described in the prospectus supplement;
o certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or liquidation
of the trust; or
o any other event of default provided with respect to Notes of that
series.
If an event of default with respect to the Notes of any series at the
time outstanding occurs and is continuing, subject to the terms of the
indenture, either the trustee or the holders of a specified percentage of the
then aggregate outstanding amount of the Notes of the series may declare the
principal amount or, if the Notes of that series are zero coupon securities,
that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that
series, of all the Notes of the series to be due and payable immediately. That
declaration may, under certain circumstances, be rescinded and annulled by the
holders of a specified percentage in aggregate outstanding amount of the Notes
of that series.
If, following an event of default with respect to any series of Notes,
the Notes of that series have been declared to be due and payable, the trustee
may, in its discretion, notwithstanding any acceleration, elect to maintain
possession of the collateral securing the Notes of the series and to continue
to apply distributions on the collateral as if there had been no declaration
of acceleration if the collateral continues to provide sufficient funds for
the payment of principal and interest on the Notes of that series as they
would have become due if there had not been a declaration of acceleration. In
addition, the trustee may not sell or otherwise liquidate the collateral
securing the Notes of a series following an event of default, unless:
o the holders of 100% (or any other percentages specified in the
indenture) of the then aggregate outstanding amount of the Notes (or
certain classes of Notes) of the series consent to the sale;
o the proceeds of the sale or liquidation are sufficient to pay in full
the principal and accrued interest, due and unpaid, on the outstanding
Notes of the series at the date of the sale; or
o the trustee determines that the collateral would not be sufficient on
an ongoing basis to make all payments on the Notes as the payments
would have become due if the Notes had not been declared due and
payable, and the trustee obtains the consent of the holders of a
specified percentage of the then aggregate outstanding amount of the
Notes of the series.
As specified in the prospectus supplement, in the event the principal of
the Notes of a series is declared due and payable, the holders of any Notes
issued at a discount from par may be entitled to receive no more than an
amount equal to the unpaid principal amount less the amount of the discount
that is unamortized.
Subject to the provisions for indemnification and certain limitations
contained in the indenture, the holders of a specified percentage of the then
aggregate outstanding amount of the Notes of a series will have the right to
direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the
trustee with respect to the Notes of the series, and the holders of a
specified percentage of the then aggregate outstanding amount of the Notes of
that series may, in certain cases, waive any default, except a default in the
payment of principal or interest or a default in respect of a covenant or
provision of the indenture that cannot be modified without the waiver or
consent of all the holders of the outstanding Notes of that series affected
thereby.
The Trustee
The identity of the commercial bank, savings and loan association or
trust company named as the trustee for each series of Securities will be set
forth in the prospectus supplement. The entity serving as trustee may have
normal banking relationships with the depositor or the master servicer. In
addition, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of certain local
jurisdictions, the trustee will have the power to appoint co-trustees or
separate trustees of all or any part of the trust fund relating to a series of
Securities. In the event of such appointment, all rights, powers, duties and
obligations conferred or imposed upon the trustee by the Agreement relating to
that series will be conferred or imposed upon the trustee and each separate
trustee or co-trustee jointly, or, in any jurisdiction in which the trustee is
incompetent or unqualified to perform certain acts, singly upon the separate
trustee or co-trustee who will exercise and perform those rights, powers,
duties and obligations solely at the direction of the trustee. The trustee may
also appoint agents to perform any of the responsibilities of the trustee,
which agents will have any or all of the rights, powers, duties and
obligations of the trustee conferred on them by their appointment; provided
that the trustee will continue to be responsible for its duties and
obligations under the Agreement.
Duties of the Trustee
The trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of
the Agreements, the Securities or of any Primary Asset or related documents.
If no event of default (as defined in the related Agreement) has occurred, the
trustee is required to perform only those duties specifically required of it
under the Agreement. Upon receipt of the various certificates, statements,
reports or other instruments required to be furnished to it, the trustee is
required to examine them to determine whether they are in the form required by
the related Agreement, however, the trustee will not be responsible for the
accuracy or content of any documents furnished by it or the securityholders to
the master servicer under the related Agreement.
The trustee may be held liable for its own negligent action or failure to
act, or for its own willful misconduct; provided, however, that the trustee
will not be personally liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or
omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of
the securityholders in an event of default, see "Event of Default; Rights Upon
Event of Default" above. The trustee is not required to expend or risk its own
funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of
its duties under the Agreement, or in the exercise of any of its rights or
powers, if it has reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of those
funds or adequate indemnity against risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
Resignation of Trustee
The trustee may, upon written notice to the depositor, resign at any
time, in which event the depositor will be obligated to use its best efforts
to appoint a successor trustee. If no successor trustee has been appointed and
has accepted the appointment within a specified number of days after giving
notice of resignation, the resigning trustee or the securityholders may
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor
trustee.
The trustee may also be removed at any time:
o if the trustee ceases to be eligible to continue to act as trustee
under the Agreement;
o if the trustee becomes insolvent; or
o by the securityholders of securities evidencing a specified percentage
of the aggregate voting rights of the securities in the trust fund
upon written notice to the trustee and to the depositor.
Any resignation or removal of the trustee and appointment of a successor
trustee will not become effective until acceptance of the appointment by the
successor trustee.
Distribution Account
The trustee will establish a separate account (the "Distribution
Account") in its name as trustee for the securityholders. Unless otherwise
specified in the prospectus supplement, the Distribution Account will be
maintained as an interest bearing account or the funds held therein may be
invested, pending disbursement to securityholders of the related series,
pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, in Eligible Investments. If specified
in the prospectus supplement, the master servicer will be entitled to receive
as additional compensation, any interest or other income earned on funds in
the Distribution Account. The trustee will deposit into the Distribution
Account on the Business Day received all funds received from the master
servicer and required withdrawals from any Reserve Funds. Unless otherwise
specified in the prospectus supplement, the trustee is permitted from time to
time to make withdrawals from the Distribution Account for each series to
remove amounts deposited therein in error, to pay to the master servicer any
reinvestment income on funds held in the Distribution Account to the extent it
is entitled, to remit to the master servicer its Servicing Fee to the extent
not previously withdrawn from the Collection Account, to make deposits to any
Reserve Fund, to make regular distributions to the securityholders and to
clear and terminate the Distribution Account.
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, "Business Day"
means a day that, in the city of New York or in the city or cities in which
the corporate trust office of the trustee are located, is neither a legal
holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or obligated by
law, regulation or executive order to be closed.
Expense Reserve Fund
If specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a series, the
depositor may deposit on the related closing date of the issuance of a series
in an account to be established with the trustee (the "Expense Reserve Fund")
cash or eligible investments that will be available to pay anticipated fees
and expenses of the trustee or other agents. The Expense Reserve Fund for a
series may also be funded over time through the deposit therein of all or a
portion of cash flow, to the extent described in the prospectus supplement.
The Expense Reserve Fund, if any, will not be part of the trust fund held for
the benefit of the holders. Amounts on deposit in any Expense Reserve Fund
will be invested in one or more Eligible Investments.
Amendment of Agreement
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the Agreement
for each series of Securities may be amended by the parties to the Agreement,
without notice to or consent of the securityholders:
(1) to cure any ambiguity;
(2) to conform to the provisions of the prospectus supplement and
prospectus, to correct any defective provisions or to supplement any
provision;
(3) to add any other provisions with respect to matters or questions
arising under the Agreement; or
(4) to comply with any requirements imposed by the Code;
provided that any amendment except pursuant to clause (3) above, will not
adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any securityholders
of the related series not consenting thereto. If provided in the Agreement,
any amendment pursuant to clause (3) of the preceding sentence will be deemed
not to adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any
securityholder if the trustee receives written confirmation from each Rating
Agency rating the Securities of that series that the amendment will not cause
the Rating Agency to reduce the then current rating.
As specified in the prospectus supplement, the Agreement may also be
amended by the parties to the Agreement with the consent of the
securityholders possessing a specified percentage of the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Securities (or, if only certain classes are affected
by the amendment, a specified percentage of the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of each class affected), for the purpose of adding any
provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions
of the Agreement or modifying in any manner the rights of securityholders;
provided, however, that no amendment may:
o reduce the amount or delay the timing of payments on any Security
without the consent of the holder of that Security; or
o reduce the percentage required to consent to the amendment, without
the consent of securityholders of 100% of each class of Securities
affected by the amendment.
Voting Rights
The prospectus supplement may set forth a method of determining
allocation of voting rights with respect to a series of Securities.
REMIC or FASIT Administrator
For any Multi-Class Series with respect to which a REMIC or FASIT
election is made, preparation of certain reports and certain other
administrative duties with respect to the trust fund may be performed by a
REMIC or a FASIT administrator, who may be an affiliate of the depositor.
Administration Agreement
If specified in the prospectus supplement for a series of Notes, the
depositor, the trust fund and an administrator specified in the prospectus
supplement will enter into an administration agreement. The administrator will
agree, to the extent provided in the administration agreement, to provide
certain notices and to perform certain other administrative obligations
required to be performed by the trust fund under the sale and collection
agreement, the indenture and the deposit trust agreement. Certain additional
administrative functions may be performed on behalf of the trust fund by the
depositor.
Termination
Trust Agreement
The obligations created by the trust agreement for a series will
terminate upon the distribution to securityholders of all amounts
distributable to them pursuant to the trust agreement after the earlier of:
o the later of (a) the final payment or other liquidation of the last
Mortgage Loan remaining in the trust fund for the related series and
(b) the disposition of all property acquired upon foreclosure or deed
in lieu of foreclosure in respect of any Mortgage Loan ("REO
Property"); and
o the repurchase, as described below, by the master servicer from the
trustee for the related series of all Mortgage Loans at that time
subject to the trust agreement and all REO Property.
As specified in the prospectus supplement, the trust agreement for each
series permits, but does not require, the specified entity to repurchase from
the trust fund for that series all remaining Mortgage Loans at a price equal,
unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, to:
o 100% of the Aggregate Asset Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans,
plus
o with respect to REO Property, if any, the outstanding principal
balance of the related Mortgage Loan, minus
o related unreimbursed Advances, or in the case of the Mortgage Loans,
only to the extent not already reflected in the computation of the
Aggregate Asset Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans, minus
o unreimbursed expenses that are reimbursable pursuant to the terms of
the trust agreement, plus
o accrued interest at the weighted average Mortgage Rate through the
last day of the Due Period in which the repurchase occurs;
provided, however, that if an election is made for treatment as a REMIC or as
a FASIT under the Code, the repurchase price may equal the greater of:
o 100% of the Aggregate Asset Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans,
plus accrued interest thereon at the applicable Net Mortgage Rates
through the last day of the month of the repurchase, and
o the aggregate fair market value of the Mortgage Loans; plus the fair
market value of any property acquired in respect of a Mortgage Loan
and remaining in the trust fund.
The exercise of this right will effect early retirement of the
Certificates of the series, but the master servicer's right to so purchase is
subject to the Aggregate Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loans at the time
of repurchase being less than a fixed percentage, to be set forth in the
prospectus supplement, of the aggregate asset principal balance on the Cut-off
Date. In no event, however, will the trust created by the Agreement continue
beyond the expiration of 21 years from the death of the last survivor of a
certain person identified therein. For each series, the master servicer or the
trustee, as applicable, will give written notice of termination of the
Agreement to each securityholder, and the final distribution will be made only
upon surrender and cancellation of the Certificates at an office or agency
specified in the notice of termination. If so provided in the prospectus
supplement for a series, the depositor or another entity may effect an
optional termination of the trust fund under the circumstances described in
the prospectus supplement. See "Description of the Securities -- Optional
Termination."
Indenture
The indenture will be discharged with respect to a series of Notes,
except with respect to certain continuing rights specified in the indenture,
upon the delivery to the trustee for cancellation of all the Notes or, with
certain limitations, upon deposit with the trustee of funds sufficient for the
payment in full of all of the Notes.
In addition, with certain limitations, the indenture may provide that the
trust will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the Notes,
except for certain administrative duties, upon the deposit with the trustee of
money or direct obligations of or obligations guaranteed by the United States
of America which through the payment of interest and principal in accordance
with their terms will provide funds in an amount sufficient to pay the
principal of and each installment of interest on the Notes on the stated
maturity date and any installment of interest on the Notes in accordance with
the terms of the indenture and the Notes. In the event of any defeasance and
discharge of Notes, holders of the Notes will be able to look only to the
funds or direct obligations for payment of principal and interest, if any, on
their Notes until maturity.
Legal Aspects of Loans
The following discussion contains summaries of certain legal aspects of
housing loans that are general in nature. Because certain of these legal
aspects are governed by applicable state law (which laws may differ
substantially), the summaries do not purport to be complete nor to reflect the
laws of any particular state, nor to encompass the laws of all states in which
the properties securing the housing loans are situated. The summaries are
qualified in their entirety by reference to the applicable federal and state
laws governing the Loans.
Mortgages
The Mortgage Loans (other than any Cooperative Loans) comprising or
underlying the Primary Assets for a series will be secured by either mortgages
or deeds of trust or deeds to secure debt, depending upon the prevailing
practice in the state in which the property subject to a Mortgage Loan is
located. The filing of a mortgage, deed of trust or deed to secure debt
creates a lien or title interest upon the real property covered by the
instrument and represents the security for the repayment of an obligation that
is customarily evidenced by a promissory note. It is not prior to the lien for
real estate taxes and assessments or other charges imposed under governmental
police powers. Priority with respect to the instruments depends on their
terms, the knowledge of the parties to the mortgage and generally on the order
of recording with the applicable state, county or municipal office. There are
two parties to a mortgage, the mortgagor, who is the borrower/homeowner or the
land trustee (as described below), and the mortgagee, who is the lender. Under
the mortgage instrument, the mortgagor delivers to the mortgagee a note or
bond and the mortgage. In the case of a land trust, there are three parties
because title to the property is held by a land trustee under a land trust
agreement of which the borrower/homeowner is the beneficiary; at origination
of a mortgage loan, the borrower executes a separate undertaking to make
payments on the mortgage note. A deed of trust transaction normally has three
parties, the trustor, who is the borrower/homeowner; the beneficiary, who is
the lender, and the trustee, a third-party grantee. Under a deed of trust, the
trustor grants the property, irrevocably until the debt is paid, in trust,
generally with a power of sale, to the trustee to secure payment of the
obligation. The mortgagee's authority under a mortgage and the trustee's
authority under a deed of trust are governed by the law of the state in which
the real property is located, the express provisions of the mortgage or deed
of trust, and, in some cases, in deed of trust transactions, the directions of
the beneficiary.
Junior Mortgages; Rights of Senior Mortgages
If specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain Mortgage
Loans included in the pool of Mortgage Loans will be secured by junior
mortgages or deeds of trust that are subordinate to senior mortgages or deeds
of trust held by other lenders or institutional investors. The rights of the
trust fund (and therefore the securityholders) as beneficiary under a junior
deed of trust or as mortgagee under a junior mortgage, are subordinate to
those of the mortgagee or beneficiary under the senior mortgage or deed of
trust, including the prior rights of the senior mortgagee or beneficiary to
receive rents, hazard insurance and condemnation proceeds and to cause the
property securing the Mortgage Loan to be sold upon default of the mortgagor
or trustor, thereby extinguishing the junior mortgagee's or junior
beneficiary's lien unless the servicer asserts its subordinate interest in a
property in foreclosure litigation or satisfies the defaulted senior loan. As
discussed more fully below, in many states a junior mortgagee or beneficiary
may satisfy a defaulted senior loan in full, or may cure the default and bring
the senior loan current, in either event adding the amounts expended to the
balance due on the junior loan. Absent a provision in the senior mortgage, no
notice of default is required to be given to the junior mortgagee.
The standard form of the mortgage or deed of trust used by many
institutional lenders confers on the mortgagee or beneficiary the right both
to receive all proceeds collected under any hazard insurance policy and all
awards made in connection with any condemnation proceedings, and to apply the
proceeds and awards to any indebtedness secured by the mortgage or deed of
trust, in the order as the mortgagee or beneficiary may determine. Thus, in
the event improvements on the property are damaged or destroyed by fire or
other casualty, or in the event the property is taken by condemnation, the
mortgagee or beneficiary under the senior mortgage or deed of trust will have
the prior right to collect any insurance proceeds payable under a hazard
insurance policy and any award of damages in connection with the condemnation
and to apply the same to the indebtedness secured by the senior mortgage or
deed of trust. Proceeds in excess of the amount of senior mortgage
indebtedness will, in most cases, be applied to the indebtedness of a junior
mortgage or trust deed. The laws of certain states may limit the ability of
mortgagees or beneficiaries to apply the proceeds of hazard insurance and
partial condemnation awards to the secured indebtedness. In those states, the
mortgagor or trustor must be allowed to use the proceeds of hazard insurance
to repair the damage unless the security of the mortgagee or beneficiary has
been impaired. Similarly, in certain states, the mortgagee or beneficiary is
entitled to the award for a partial condemnation of the real property security
only to the extent that its security is impaired.
The form of mortgage or deed of trust used by many institutional lenders
typically contains a "future advance" clause, which provides, in essence, that
additional amounts advanced to or on behalf of the mortgagor or trustor by the
mortgagee or beneficiary are to be secured by the mortgage or deed of trust.
While a future advance clause is valid under the laws of most states, the
priority of any advance made under the clause depends, in some states, on
whether the advance was an "obligatory" or "optional" advance. If the
mortgagee or beneficiary is obligated to advance the additional amounts, the
advance may be entitled to receive the same priority as amounts initially made
under the mortgage or deed of trust, notwithstanding that there may be
intervening junior mortgages or deeds of trust and other liens between the
date of recording of the mortgage or deed of trust and the date of the future
advance, and notwithstanding that the mortgagee or beneficiary had actual
knowledge of the intervening junior mortgages or deeds of trust and other
liens at the time of the advance. Where the mortgagee or beneficiary is not
obligated to advance the additional amounts and has actual knowledge of the
intervening junior mortgages or deeds of trust and other liens, the advance
may be subordinate to the intervening junior mortgages or deeds of trust and
other liens. Priority of advances under a "future advance" clause rests, in
many other states, on state law giving priority to all advances made under the
loan agreement up to a "credit limit" amount stated in the recorded mortgage.
Another provision typically found in the form of the mortgage or deed of
trust used by many institutional lenders obligates the mortgagor or trustor to
pay before delinquency all taxes and assessments on the property and, when
due, all encumbrances, charges and liens on the property that appear prior to
the mortgage or deed of trust, to provide and maintain fire insurance on the
property, to maintain and repair the property and not to commit or permit any
waste thereof, and to appear in and defend any action or proceeding purporting
to affect the property or the rights of the mortgagee or beneficiary under the
mortgage or deed of trust. Upon a failure of the mortgagor or trustor to
perform any of these obligations, the mortgagee or beneficiary is given the
right under the mortgage or deed of trust to perform the obligation itself, at
its election, with the mortgagor or trustor agreeing to reimburse the
mortgagee or beneficiary for any sums expended by the mortgagee or beneficiary
on behalf of the mortgagor or trustor. All sums so expended by the mortgagee
or beneficiary become part of the indebtedness secured by the mortgage or deed
of trust.
The form of mortgage or deed of trust used by many institutional lenders
typically requires the mortgagor or trustor to obtain the consent of the
mortgagee or beneficiary in respect of actions affecting the mortgaged
property, including, without limitation, leasing activities (including new
leases and termination or modification of existing leases), alterations and
improvements to buildings forming a part of the mortgaged property and
management and leasing agreements for the mortgaged property. Tenants will
often refuse to execute a lease unless the mortgagee or beneficiary executes a
written agreement with the tenant not to disturb the tenant's possession of
its premises in the event of a foreclosure. A senior mortgagee or beneficiary
may refuse to consent to matters approved by a junior mortgagee or beneficiary
with the result that the value of the security for the junior mortgage or deed
of trust is diminished. For example, a senior mortgagee or beneficiary may
decide not to approve a lease or to refuse to grant a tenant a non-disturbance
agreement. If, as a result, the lease is not executed, the value of the
mortgaged property may be diminished.
Cooperative Loans
If specified in the prospectus supplement, the Mortgage Loans may also
contain Cooperative Loans evidenced by promissory notes secured by security
interests in shares issued by private corporations that are entitled to be
treated as housing cooperatives under the Code and in the related proprietary
leases or occupancy agreements granting exclusive rights to occupy specific
dwelling units in the corporations' buildings. The security agreement will
create a lien upon, or grant a title interest in, the property that it covers,
the priority of which will depend on the terms of the particular security
agreement as well as the order of recordation of the agreement in the
appropriate recording office. This lien or title interest is not prior to the
lien for real estate taxes and assessments and other charges imposed under
governmental police powers.
Cooperative Loans are not secured by liens on real estate. The "owner" of
a cooperative apartment does not own the real estate constituting the
apartment, but owns shares of stock in a corporation that holds title to the
building in which the apartment is located, and by virtue of owning the stock
is entitled to a proprietary lease or occupancy agreement to occupy the
specific apartment. A Cooperative Loan is a loan secured by a lien on the
shares and an assignment of the lease or occupancy agreement. If the borrower
defaults on a Cooperative Loan, the lender's remedies are similar to the
remedies that apply to a foreclosure of a leasehold mortgage or deed of trust,
in that the lender can foreclose the loan and assume ownership of the shares
and of the borrower's rights as lessee under the related proprietary lease or
occupancy agreement. Typically, the lender and the cooperative housing
corporation enter into a recognition agreement that establishes the rights and
obligations of both parties in the event of a default by the borrower on its
obligations under the lease or occupancy agreement.
A corporation that is entitled to be treated as a housing cooperative
under the Code owns all the real property or some interest therein sufficient
to permit it to own the building and all separate dwelling units therein. The
Cooperative is directly responsible for property management and, in most
cases, payment of real estate taxes and hazard and liability insurance. If
there is a blanket mortgage or mortgages on the cooperative apartment building
and/or underlying land, as is generally the case, or an underlying lease of
the land, as is the case in some instances, the Cooperative, as property
mortgagor, is also responsible for meeting these mortgage and rental
obligations. The interest of the occupant under proprietary leases or
occupancy agreements as to which that Cooperative is the landlord are
generally subordinate to the interest of the holder of a blanket mortgage and
to the interest of the holder of a land lease.
If the Cooperative is unable to meet the payment obligations (1) arising
under a blanket mortgage, the mortgagee holding a blanket mortgage could
foreclose on that mortgage and terminate all subordinate proprietary leases
and occupancy agreements or (2) arising under its land lease, the holder of
the land lease could terminate it and all subordinate proprietary leases and
occupancy agreements. Also, a blanket mortgage on a Cooperative may provide
financing in the form of a mortgage that does not fully amortize, with a
significant portion of principal being due in one final payment at maturity.
The inability of the Cooperative to refinance a mortgage and its consequent
inability to make final payment could lead to foreclosure by the mortgagee.
Similarly, a land lease has an expiration date and the inability of the
Cooperative to extend its term or, in the alternative, to purchase the land
could lead to termination of the Cooperative's interest in the property and
termination of all proprietary leases and occupancy agreements. A foreclosure
by the holder of a blanket mortgage could eliminate or significantly diminish
the value of any collateral held by the lender who financed an individual
tenant-stockholder of Cooperative shares or, in the case of the Mortgage
Loans, the collateral securing the Cooperative Loans. Similarly, the
termination of the land lease by its holder could eliminate or significantly
diminish the value of any collateral held by the lender who financed an
individual tenant-stockholder of the Cooperative shares or, in the case of the
Mortgage Loans, the collateral securing the Cooperative Loans.
The Cooperative is owned by tenant-stockholders who, through ownership of
stock or shares in the corporation, receive proprietary leases or occupancy
agreements that confer exclusive rights to occupy specific units. Generally, a
tenant-stockholder of a Cooperative must make a monthly payment to the
Cooperative representing the tenant-stockholder's pro rata share of the
Cooperative's payments for its blanket mortgage, real property taxes,
maintenance expenses and other capital or ordinary expenses. An ownership
interest in a Cooperative and accompanying occupancy rights are financed
through a Cooperative share loan evidenced by a promissory note and secured by
a security interest in the occupancy agreement or proprietary lease and in the
related Cooperative shares. The lender takes possession of the share
certificate and a counterpart of the proprietary lease or occupancy agreement
and a financing statement covering the proprietary lease or occupancy
agreement and the Cooperative shares is filed in the appropriate state and
local offices to perfect the lender's interest in its collateral. Subject to
the limitations discussed below, upon default of the tenant-stockholder, the
lender may sue for judgment on the promissory note, dispose of the collateral
at a public or private sale or otherwise proceed against the collateral or
tenant-stockholder as an individual as provided in the security agreement
covering the assignment of the proprietary lease or occupancy agreement and
the pledge of cooperative shares. See " -- Realizing Upon Cooperative Loan
Security" below.
There are certain risks that arise as a result of the cooperative form of
ownership that differentiate Cooperative Loans from other types of Mortgage
Loans. For example, the power of the board of directors of most cooperative
housing corporations to reject a proposed purchaser of a unit owner's shares
(and prevent the sale of an apartment) for any reason (other than reasons
based upon unlawful discrimination), or for no reason, significantly reduces
the universe of potential purchasers in the event of a foreclosure. Moreover,
in buildings where the "sponsor" (i.e., the owner of the unsold shares in the
corporation) holds a significant number of unsold interests in apartments,
cooperative apartment owners run a special risk that the sponsor may go into
default on its proprietary leases or occupancy agreements, and thereby cause a
default under the underlying mortgage loan to the cooperative housing
corporation that is secured by a mortgage on the building. In this case, the
unit owners may be forced to make up any shortfall in income to the
cooperative housing corporation resulting from the sponsor's default or risk
losing their apartments in a foreclosure proceeding brought by the holder of
the mortgage on the building. Not only would the value attributable to the
right to occupy a particular apartment be adversely affected by the
occurrence, but the foreclosure of a mortgage on the building in which the
apartment is located could result in a total loss of the shareholder's equity
in the building and right to occupy the apartment (and a corresponding loss of
the lender's security for its Cooperative Loan).
Tax Aspects of Cooperative Ownership
In general, a "tenant-stockholder" (as defined in Section 216(b)(2) of
the Code) of a corporation that qualifies as a "cooperative housing
corporation" within the meaning of Section 216(b)(1) of the Code is allowed a
deduction for amounts paid or accrued within his taxable year to the
corporation representing his proportionate share of certain interest expenses
and certain real estate taxes allowable as a deduction under Section 216(a) of
the Code to the corporation under Sections 163 and 164 of the Code. In order
for a corporation to qualify under Section 216(b)(1) of the Code for its
taxable year in which these items are allowable as a deduction to the
corporation, that section requires, among other things, that at least 80% of
the gross income of the corporation be derived from its tenant-stockholders.
By virtue of this requirement, the status of a corporation for purposes of
Section 216(b)(1) of the Code must be determined on a year-to-year basis.
Consequently, there can be no assurance that cooperatives relating to the
Cooperative Loans will qualify under the section for any particular year. In
the event that a cooperative fails to qualify for one or more years, the value
of the collateral securing any related Cooperative Loans could be
significantly impaired because no deduction would be allowable to
tenant-stockholders under Section 216(a) of the Code with respect to those
years. In view of the significance of the tax benefits accorded
tenant-stockholders of a corporation that qualifies under Section 216(b)(1) of
the Code, the likelihood that the failure would be permitted to continue over
a period of years appears remote.
Foreclosure on Mortgages
Foreclosure of a deed of trust is generally accomplished by a
non-judicial trustee's sale under a specific provision in the deed of trust
that authorizes the trustee to sell the property upon any default by the
borrower under the terms of the note or deed of trust. In some states, the
trustee must record a notice of default and send a copy to the
borrower-trustor and to any person who has recorded a request for a copy of a
notice of default and notice of sale. In addition, the trustee in some states
must provide notice to any other individual having an interest in the real
property, including any junior lienholders. The trustor, borrower, or any
person having a junior encumbrance on the real estate, may, during a
reinstatement period, cure the default by paying the entire amount in arrears
plus the costs and expenses incurred in enforcing the obligation. Generally,
state law controls the amount of foreclosure expenses and costs, including
attorney's fees, which may be recovered by a lender. If the deed of trust is
not reinstated, a notice of sale must be posted in a public place and, in most
states, published for a specific period of time in one or more newspapers. In
addition, some state laws require that a copy of the notice of sale be posted
on the property, recorded and sent to all parties having an interest in the
real property.
An action to foreclose a mortgage is an action to recover the mortgage
debt by enforcing the mortgagee's rights under the mortgage. It is regulated
by statutes and rules and subject throughout to the court's equitable powers.
Generally, a mortgagor is bound by the terms of the mortgage note and the
mortgage as made and cannot be relieved from his default if the mortgagee has
exercised his rights in a commercially reasonable manner. However, since a
foreclosure action historically was equitable in nature, the court may
exercise equitable powers to relieve a mortgagor of a default and deny the
mortgagee foreclosure on proof that either the mortgagor's default was neither
willful nor in bad faith or the mortgagee's action established a waiver,
fraud, bad faith, or oppressive or unconscionable conduct sufficient to
warrant a court of equity to refuse affirmative relief to the mortgagee. Under
certain circumstances a court of equity may relieve the mortgagor from an
entirely technical default where the default was not willful.
A foreclosure action is subject to most of the delays and expenses of
other lawsuits if defenses or counterclaims are interposed, sometimes
requiring up to several years to complete. Moreover, a non-collusive,
regularly conducted foreclosure sale may be challenged as a fraudulent
conveyance, regardless of the parties' intent, if a court determines that the
sale was for less than fair consideration and the sale occurred while the
mortgagor was insolvent and within one year (or within the state statute of
limitations if the trustee in bankruptcy elects to proceed under state
fraudulent conveyance law) of the filing of bankruptcy. Similarly, a suit
against the debtor on the mortgage note may take several years and, generally,
is a remedy alternative to foreclosure, the mortgagee generally being
precluded from pursuing both at the same time.
In case of foreclosure under either a mortgage or a deed of trust, the
sale by the referee or other designated officer or by the trustee is a public
sale. However, because of the difficulty potential third party purchasers at
the sale have in determining the exact status of title and because the
physical condition of the property may have deteriorated during the
foreclosure proceedings, it is uncommon for a third party to purchase the
property at a foreclosure sale. Rather, it is common for the lender to
purchase the property from the trustee or referee for an amount that may be
equal to the principal amount of the mortgage or deed of trust plus accrued
and unpaid interest and the expenses of foreclosure, in which event the
mortgagor's debt will be extinguished or the lender may purchase for a lesser
amount in order to preserve its right against a borrower to seek a deficiency
judgment in states where it is available. Thereafter, the lender will assume
the burdens of ownership, including obtaining casualty insurance, paying taxes
and making repairs at its own expense as are necessary to render the property
suitable for sale. The lender will commonly obtain the services of a real
estate broker and pay the broker's commission in connection with the sale of
the property. Depending upon market conditions, the ultimate proceeds of the
sale of the property may not equal the lender's investment in the property.
Any loss may be reduced by the receipt of any mortgage guaranty insurance
proceeds.
Realizing Upon Cooperative Loan Security
The Cooperative shares and proprietary lease or occupancy agreement owned
by the tenant-stockholder and pledged to the lender are, in almost all cases,
subject to restrictions on transfer as set forth in the Cooperative's
certificate of incorporation and by-laws, as well as in the proprietary lease
or occupancy agreement. The proprietary lease or occupancy agreement, even
while pledged, may be cancelled by the Cooperative for failure by the
tenant-stockholder to pay rent or other obligations or charges owed by the
tenant-stockholder, including mechanics' liens against the Cooperative
apartment building incurred by the tenant-stockholder. Commonly, rent and
other obligations and charges arising under a proprietary lease or occupancy
agreement that are owed to the Cooperative are made liens upon the shares to
which the proprietary lease or occupancy agreement relates. In addition, the
proprietary lease or occupancy agreement generally permits the Cooperative to
terminate the lease or agreement in the event the borrower defaults in the
performance of covenants thereunder. Typically, the lender and the Cooperative
enter into a recognition agreement that establishes the rights and obligations
of both parties in the event of a default by the tenant-stockholder on its
obligations under the proprietary lease or occupancy agreement. A default by
the tenant-stockholder under the proprietary lease or occupancy agreement will
usually constitute a default under the security agreement between the lender
and the tenant-stockholder.
The recognition agreement generally provides that, in the event that the
tenant-stockholder has defaulted under the proprietary lease or occupancy
agreement, the Cooperative will take no action to terminate the lease or
agreement until the lender has been provided with an opportunity to cure the
default. The recognition agreement typically provides that if the proprietary
lease or occupancy agreement is terminated, the Cooperative will recognize the
lender's lien against proceeds from a sale of the Cooperative apartment,
subject, however, to the Cooperative's right to sums due under the proprietary
lease or occupancy agreement or which have become liens on the shares relating
to the proprietary lease or occupancy agreement. The total amount owed to the
Cooperative by the tenant-stockholder, which the lender generally cannot
restrict and does not monitor, could reduce the value of the collateral below
the outstanding principal balance of the Cooperative Loan and accrued and
unpaid interest thereon.
Recognition agreements also provide that in the event the lender succeeds
to the tenant-shareholder's shares and proprietary lease or occupancy
agreement as the result of realizing upon its collateral for a Cooperative
Loan, the lender must obtain the approval or consent of the Cooperative as
required by the proprietary lease before transferring the Cooperative shares
or assigning the proprietary lease.
In some states, foreclosure on the cooperative shares is accomplished by
a sale in accordance with the provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform
Commercial Code (the "UCC") and the security agreement relating to those
shares. Article 9 of the UCC requires that a sale be conducted in a
"commercially reasonable" manner. Whether a foreclosure sale has been
conducted in a "commercially reasonable" manner will depend on the facts in
each case. In determining commercial reasonableness, a court will look to the
notice given the debtor and the method, manner, time, place and terms of the
sale. Generally, a sale conducted according to the usual practice of banks
selling similar collateral will be considered reasonably conducted.
Article 9 of the UCC provides that the proceeds of the sale will be
applied first to pay the costs and expenses of the sale and then to satisfy
the indebtedness secured by the lender's security interest. The recognition
agreement, however, generally provides that the lender's right to
reimbursement is subject to the right of the Cooperative corporation to
receive sums due under the proprietary lease or occupancy agreement. If there
are proceeds remaining, the lender must account to the tenant-stockholder for
the surplus. Conversely, if a portion of the indebtedness remains unpaid, the
tenant-stockholder is generally responsible for the deficiency. See
"Anti-Deficiency Legislation and Other Limitations on Lenders" below.
In the case of foreclosure on a mortgage secured by the cooperative
building itself, where the building was converted from a rental building to a
building owned by a cooperative, under a non-eviction plan, some states
require that a purchaser at a foreclosure sale take the property subject to
rent control and rent stabilization laws that apply to certain tenants who
elect to remain in the building but who did not purchase shares in the
cooperative when the building was so converted. In addition, all cooperative
units that were previously rent controlled or rent stabilized may convert to
their prior state of rent-controlled or rent-stabilized apartments.
Rights of Redemption
In some states, after sale pursuant to a deed of trust or foreclosure of
a mortgage, the trustor or mortgagor and foreclosed junior lienors are given a
statutory period in which to redeem the property from the foreclosure sale.
The right of redemption should be distinguished from the equity of redemption,
which is a nonstatutory right that must be exercised prior to the foreclosure
sale. In some states, redemption may occur only upon payment of the entire
principal balance of the loan, accrued interest and expenses of foreclosure.
In other states, redemption may be authorized if the former borrower pays only
a portion of the sums due. The effect of a statutory right of redemption is to
diminish the ability of the lender to sell the foreclosed property. The right
of redemption would defeat the title of any purchaser from the lender
subsequent to foreclosure or sale under a deed of trust. Consequently, the
practical effect of a right of redemption is to force the lender to retain the
property and pay the expenses of ownership until the redemption period has
run. In some states, there is no right to redeem property after a trustee's
sale under a deed of trust.
Anti-Deficiency Legislation and Other Limitations on Lenders
Certain states have imposed statutory prohibitions that limit the
remedies of a beneficiary under a deed of trust or a mortgagee under a
mortgage. In some states, statutes limit the right of the beneficiary or
mortgagee to obtain a deficiency judgment against the borrower following
foreclosure or sale under a deed of trust. A deficiency judgment is a personal
judgment against the former borrower equal in most cases to the difference
between the net amount realized upon the public sale of the real property and
the amount due to the lender. Other statutes require the beneficiary or
mortgagee to exhaust the security afforded under a deed of trust or mortgage
by foreclosure in an attempt to satisfy the full debt before bringing a
personal action against the borrower. Finally, other statutory provisions
limit any deficiency judgment against the former borrower following a judicial
sale to the excess of the outstanding debt over the fair market value of the
property at the time of the public sale. The purpose of these statutes is
generally to prevent a beneficiary or a mortgagee from obtaining a large
deficiency judgment against the former borrower as a result of low or no bids
at the judicial sale.
In addition to the statutory prohibitions on deficiency judgments,
certain Mortgage Loans in the trust fund may, by their terms, prohibit
recourse to the borrower in the event proceeds from foreclosure or other
liquidation are insufficient to satisfy the debt. These Mortgage Loans may
also not require payments of principal and interest until maturity, thereby
increasing the likelihood that a deficiency will exist.
Cooperative Loans
Generally, lenders realize on cooperative shares and the accompanying
proprietary lease given to secure a Cooperative Loan under Article 9 of the
UCC. Some courts have interpreted section 9-504 of the UCC to prohibit a
deficiency award unless the creditor establishes that the sale of the
collateral (which, in the case of a Cooperative Loan, would be the shares of
the Cooperative and the related proprietary lease or occupancy agreement) was
conducted in a commercially reasonable manner.
Leases and Rents
Multifamily mortgage loan transactions often provide for an assignment of
the leases and rents pursuant to which the borrower typically assigns its
right, title and interest, as landlord under each lease and the income derived
therefrom, to the lender while either obtaining a license to collect rents for
so long as there is no default or providing for the direct payment to the
lender. Local law, however, may require that the lender take possession of the
property and appoint a receiver before becoming entitled to collect the rents
under the lease.
Federal Bankruptcy and Other Laws Affecting Creditors' Rights
In addition to laws limiting or prohibiting deficiency judgments,
numerous other statutory provisions, including the federal bankruptcy laws,
the Federal Soldiers' and Sailors' Relief Act, and state laws affording relief
to debtors, may interfere with or affect the ability of the secured lender to
realize upon collateral and/or enforce a deficiency judgment. For example,
with respect to federal bankruptcy law, the filing of a petition acts as a
stay against the enforcement of remedies for collection of a debt. Moreover, a
court with federal bankruptcy jurisdiction may permit a debtor through a
Chapter 13 rehabilitative plan under the Bankruptcy Code to cure a monetary
default with respect to a loan on a debtor's residence by paying arrearages
within a reasonable time period and reinstating the original loan payment
schedule even though the lender accelerated the loan and the lender has taken
all steps to realize upon his security (provided no sale of the property has
yet occurred) prior to the filing of the debtor's Chapter 13 petition. Some
courts with federal bankruptcy jurisdiction have approved plans, based on the
particular facts of the reorganization case, that effected the curing of a
loan default by permitting the obligor to pay arrearages over a number of
years.
Courts with federal bankruptcy jurisdiction have also indicated that the
terms of a loan secured by property of the debtor may be modified if the
borrower has filed a petition under Chapter 13. These courts have suggested
that such modifications may include reducing the amount of each monthly
payment, changing the rate of interest, altering the repayment schedule and
reducing the lender's security interest to the value of the residence, thus
leaving the lender a general unsecured creditor for the difference between the
value of the residence and the outstanding balance of the loan. Federal
bankruptcy law and limited case law indicate that the foregoing modifications
could not be applied to the terms of a loan secured by property that is the
principal residence of the debtor. In all cases, the secured creditor is
entitled to the value of its security plus post-petition interest, attorney's
fees and costs to the extent the value of the security exceeds the debt.
In a Chapter 11 case under the Bankruptcy Code, the lender is precluded
from foreclosing without authorization from the bankruptcy court. The lender's
lien may be transferred to other collateral and/or be limited in amount to the
value of the lender's interest in the collateral as of the date of the
bankruptcy. The loan term may be extended, the interest rate may be adjusted
to market rates and the priority of the loan may be subordinated to bankruptcy
court-approved financing. The bankruptcy court can, in effect, invalidate
due-on-sale clauses through confirmed Chapter 11 plans of reorganization.
The Bankruptcy Code provides priority to certain tax liens over the
lender's security. This may delay or interfere with the enforcement of rights
in respect of a defaulted Loan. In addition, substantive requirements are
imposed upon lenders in connection with the origination and the servicing of
mortgage loans by numerous federal and some state consumer protection laws.
The laws include the federal Truth-in-Lending Act, Real Estate Settlement
Procedures Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Credit Billing Act, Fair
Credit Reporting Act and related statutes and regulations. These federal laws
impose specific statutory liabilities upon lenders who originate loans and who
fail to comply with the provisions of the law. In some cases, this liability
may affect assignees of the loans.
Federal Bankruptcy Laws Relating to Mortgage Loans Secured by Multifamily
Property
Section 365(a) of the Bankruptcy Code generally provides that a trustee
or a debtor-in-possession in a bankruptcy or reorganization case under the
Bankruptcy Code has the power to assume or to reject an executory contract or
an unexpired lease of the debtor, in each case subject to the approval of the
bankruptcy court administering the case. If the trustee or
debtor-in-possession rejects an executory contract or an unexpired lease,
rejection generally constitutes a breach of the executory contract or
unexpired lease immediately before the date of the filing of the petition. As
a consequence, the other party or parties to the executory contract or
unexpired lease, such as the mortgagor, as lessor under a lease, would have
only an unsecured claim against the debtor for damages resulting from the
breach, which could adversely affect the security for the related Mortgage
Loan. Moreover, under Section 502(b)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code, the claim of a
lessor for damages from the termination of a lease of real property will be
limited to the sum of (1) the rent reserved by the lease, without
acceleration, for the greater of one year or 15 percent, not to exceed three
years, of the remaining term of the lease, following the earlier of the date
of the filing of the petition and the date on which the lender repossessed, or
the lessee surrendered, the leased property, and (2) any unpaid rent due under
the lease, without acceleration, on the earlier of these dates.
Under Section 365(h) of the Bankruptcy Code, if a trustee for a lessor,
or a lessor as a debtor-in-possession, rejects an unexpired lease of real
property, the lessee may treat the lease as terminated by rejection or, in the
alternative, may remain in possession of the leasehold for the balance of the
term and for any renewal or extension of the term that is enforceable by the
lessee under applicable nonbankruptcy law. The Bankruptcy Code provides that
if a lessee elects to remain in possession after rejection of a lease, the
lessee may offset against rents reserved under the lease for the balance of
the term after the date of rejection of the lease, and any renewal or
extension thereof, any damages occurring after that date caused by the
nonperformance of any obligation of the lessor under the lease after that
date.
Under Section 365(f) of the Bankruptcy Code, if a trustee assumes an
executory contract or an unexpired lease of the debtor, the trustee or
debtor-in-possession generally may assign the executory contract or unexpired
lease, notwithstanding any provision therein or in applicable law that
prohibits, restricts or conditions the assignment, provided that the trustee
or debtor-in-possession provides adequate assurance of future performance by
the assignee. In addition, no party to an executory contract or an unexpired
lease may terminate or modify any rights or obligations under an executory
contract or an unexpired lease at any time after the commencement of a case
under the Bankruptcy Code solely because of a provision in the executory
contract or unexpired lease or in applicable law conditioned upon the
assignment of the executory contract or unexpired lease. Thus, an undetermined
third party may assume the obligations of the lessee or a mortgagor under a
lease in the event of commencement of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code
with respect to the lessee or a mortgagor, as applicable.
Under Sections 363(b) and (f) of the Bankruptcy Code, a trustee for a
lessor, or a lessor as debtor-in-possession, may, despite the provisions of
the related Mortgage Loan to the contrary, sell the Mortgaged Property free
and clear of all liens, which liens would then attach to the proceeds of the
sale.
Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940
Under the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940, members of all
branches of the military on active duty, including draftees and reservists in
military service:
o are entitled to have interest rates reduced and capped at 6% per
annum, on obligations (including mortgage loans and Manufactured Home
Loans) incurred prior to the commencement of military service for the
duration of military service;
o may be entitled to a stay of proceedings on any kind of foreclosure or
repossession action in the case of defaults on the obligations entered
into prior to military service; and
o may have the maturity of the obligations incurred prior to military
service extended, the payments lowered and the payment schedule
readjusted for a period of time after the completion of military
service.
However, the benefits listed above are subject to challenge by creditors
and if, in the opinion of the court, the ability of a person to comply with
the obligations is not materially impaired by military service, the court may
apply equitable principles accordingly. If a borrower's obligation to repay
amounts otherwise due on a Mortgage Loan or Manufactured Home Loan included in
a Trust for a series is relieved pursuant to the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil
Relief Act of 1940, neither the servicer, the master servicer nor the trustee
will be required to advance the amounts, and any loss in respect thereof may
reduce the amounts available to be paid to the holders of the securities of
the related series.
As specified in the prospectus supplement, any shortfalls in interest
collections on Mortgage Loans included in a Trust for a series resulting from
application of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 will be
allocated to each class of securities of the related series that is entitled
to receive interest in respect of the Mortgage Loans or Manufactured Home
Loans in proportion to the interest that each class of Securities would have
otherwise been entitled to receive in respect of such Mortgage Loans had such
interest shortfall not occurred.
Environmental Risks
Under the laws of some states, and under the federal Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA"), it
is conceivable that a secured lender (such as the trust fund) may be held
liable as an "owner" or "operator" for the costs of addressing releases or
threatened releases of hazardous substances at a Mortgage Property, even
though the environmental damage or threat was caused by a prior or current
owner or "responsible parties", including owners and operators. However,
CERCLA excludes from the definition of "owner or operator" a secured creditor
who holds indicia of ownership primarily to protect its security interest, but
does not "participate in the management" of the Mortgaged Property (the
"secured creditor exclusion"). Thus, if a lender's activities begin to
encroach on the actual management of a contaminated property, the lender may
incur liability as an "owner or operator" under CERCLA. Similarly, if a lender
forecloses and takes title to a contaminated property, the lender may incur
CERCLA liability in various circumstances, including, but not limited to, when
it holds the property as an investment (including leasing the property to a
third party), or fails to market the property in a timely fashion.
Amendments to CERCLA enacted in 1996 have clarified the range of
activities in which a lender may engage without becoming subject to liability
under CERCLA. However, liability for costs associated with the investigation
and cleanup of environmental contamination may also be governed by state law,
which may not provide any specific protections to lenders, or, alternatively,
may not impose liability on lenders at all.
CERCLA does not apply to petroleum products, and the secured creditor
exclusion does not govern liability for cleanup costs associated with releases
of petroleum contamination. Federal regulation of underground petroleum
storage tanks (other than heating oil tanks) is governed by Subtitle I of the
federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA"). The United States
Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") has promulgated a lender liability
rule for underground storage tanks regulated by Subtitle I of RCRA. Under the
EPA rule, a holder of a security interest in an underground storage tank, is
not considered an operator of the underground storage tank as long as
petroleum is not added to, stored in or dispensed from the tank. Moreover,
amendments to RCRA, enacted concurrently with the CERCLA amendments discussed
in the previous paragraph, extend to the holders of security interests in
petroleum underground storage tanks the same protections accorded to secured
creditors under CERCLA. It should be noted, however, that liability for
cleanup of petroleum contamination may be governed by state law, which may not
provide any specific protection for lenders, or, alternatively, may not impose
liability on lenders at all.
Due-on-Sale Clauses in Mortgage Loans
Due-on-sale clauses permit the lender to accelerate the maturity of the
loan if the borrower sells or transfers, whether voluntarily or involuntarily,
all or part of the real property securing the loan without the lender's prior
written consent. The enforceability of these clauses has been the subject of
legislation or litigation in many states, and in some cases, typically
involving single family residential mortgage transactions, their
enforceability has been limited or denied. In any event, the Garn-St. Germain
Depository Institutions Act of 1982 (the "Garn-St Germain Act") generally
preempts state constitutional, statutory and case law that prohibits the
enforcement of due-on-sale clauses and permits lenders to enforce these
clauses in accordance with their terms. As a result, due-on-sale clauses have
become enforceable except in those states whose legislatures exercised their
authority to regulate the enforceability of due-on-sale clauses with respect
to mortgage loans that were:
o originated or assumed during the "window period" under the Garn-St.
Germain Act which ended in all cases not later than October 15, 1982,
and
o originated by lenders other than national banks, federal savings
institutions and federal credit unions.
Freddie Mac has taken the position in its published mortgage servicing
standards that, out of a total of eleven "window period states", five states
- -- Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and Utah -- have enacted statutes
extending, on various terms and for varying periods, the prohibition on
enforcement of due-on-sale clauses with respect to certain categories of
window period loans. Also, the Garn-St. Germain Act does "encourage" lenders
to permit assumption of loans at the original rate of interest or at some
other rate less than the average of the original rate and the market rate.
In addition, under federal bankruptcy law, due-on-sale clauses may not be
enforceable in bankruptcy proceedings and may, under certain circumstances, be
eliminated in any modified mortgage resulting from a bankruptcy proceeding.
Enforceability of Prepayment and Late Payment Fees
Forms of notes, mortgages and deeds of trust used by lenders may contain
provisions obligating the borrower to pay a late charge if payments are not
timely made, and in some circumstances may provide for prepayment fees or
penalties if the obligation is paid prior to maturity. In certain states,
there are or may be specific limitations upon the late charges which a lender
may collect from a borrower for delinquent payments. Certain states also limit
the amounts that a lender may collect from a borrower as an additional charge
if the loan is prepaid. Late charges and prepayment fees are typically
retained by servicers as additional servicing compensation.
Equitable Limitations on Remedies
In connection with lenders' attempts to realize upon their security,
courts have invoked general equitable principles. The equitable principles are
generally designed to relieve the borrower from the legal effect of his
defaults under the loan documents. Examples of judicial remedies that have
been fashioned include judicial requirements that the lender undertake
affirmative and expensive actions to determine the causes for the borrower's
default and the likelihood that the borrower will be able to reinstate the
loan. In some cases, courts have substituted their judgment for the lender's
judgment and have required that lenders reinstate loans or recast payment
schedules in order to accommodate borrowers who are suffering from temporary
financial disability. In other cases, courts have limited the right of a
lender to realize upon his security if the default under the security
agreement is not monetary, such as the borrower's failure to adequately
maintain the property or the borrower's execution of secondary financing
affecting the property. Finally, some courts have been faced with the issue of
whether or not federal or state constitutional provisions reflecting due
process concerns for adequate notice require that borrowers under security
agreements receive notices in addition to the statutorily-prescribed minimums.
For the most part, these cases have upheld the notice provisions as being
reasonable or have found that, in cases involving the sale by a trustee under
a deed of trust or by a mortgagee under a mortgage having a power of sale,
there is insufficient state action to afford constitutional protections to the
borrower.
Most conventional single-family mortgage loans may be prepaid in full or
in part without penalty. The regulations of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board
prohibit the imposition of a prepayment penalty or equivalent fee for or in
connection with the acceleration of a loan by exercise of a due-on-sale
clause. A mortgagee to whom a prepayment in full has been tendered may be
compelled to give either a release of the mortgage or an instrument assigning
the existing mortgage. The absence of a restraint on prepayment, particularly
with respect to Mortgage Loans having higher mortgage rates, may increase the
likelihood of refinancing or other early retirements of the Mortgage Loans.
Applicability of Usury Laws
Title V of the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control
Act of 1980, enacted in March 1980 ( "Title V"), provides that state usury
limitations shall not apply to certain types of residential first mortgage
loans originated by certain lenders after March 31, 1980. Similar federal
statutes were in effect with respect to mortgage loans made during the first
three months of 1980. The Federal Home Loan Bank Board is authorized to issue
rules and regulations and to publish interpretations governing implementation
of Title V. Title V authorizes any state to reimpose interest rate limits by
adopting, before April 1, 1983, a state law, or by certifying that the voters
of that state have voted in favor of any provision, constitutional or
otherwise, which expressly rejects an application of the federal law. Fifteen
states adopted such a law prior to the April 1, 1983 deadline. In addition,
even where Title V is not so rejected, any state is authorized by the law to
adopt a provision limiting discount points or other charges on mortgage loans
covered by Title V.
The depositor has been advised by counsel that a court interpreting Title
V would hold that Mortgage Loans related to a series originated on or after
January 1, 1980 are subject to federal preemption. Therefore, in a state that
has not taken the requisite action to reject application of Title V or to
adopt a provision limiting discount points or other charges prior to
origination of the Mortgage Loans, any such limitation under the state's usury
law would not apply to the Mortgage Loans.
In any state in which application of Title V has been expressly rejected
or a provision limiting discount points or other charges is adopted, no
Mortgage Loans originated after the date of the state action will be eligible
as Primary Assets if the Mortgage Loans bear interest or provide for discount
points or charges in excess of permitted levels. No Mortgage Loan originated
prior to January 1, 1980 will bear interest or provide for discount points or
charges in excess of permitted levels.
Adjustable Interest Rate Loans
ARMs originated by non-federally chartered lenders have historically been
subject to a variety of restrictions. These restrictions differed from state
to state, resulting in difficulties in determining whether a particular
alternative mortgage instrument originated by a state-chartered lender
complied with applicable law. These difficulties were alleviated substantially
as a result of the enactment of Title VIII of the Garn-St Germain Act ("Title
VIII"). Title VIII provides that, notwithstanding any state law to the
contrary, state-chartered banks may originate "alternative mortgage
instruments" (including ARMs) in accordance with regulations promulgated by
the Comptroller of the Currency with respect to origination of alternative
mortgage instruments by national banks; state-chartered credit unions may
originate alternative mortgage instruments in accordance with regulations
promulgated by the National Credit Union Administration with respect to
origination of alternative mortgage instruments by federal credit unions and
all other non-federally chartered housing creditors, including state-chartered
savings and loan associations; and state-chartered savings banks and mortgage
banking companies may originate alternative mortgage instruments in accordance
with the regulations promulgated by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board with
respect to origination of alternative mortgage instruments by federal savings
and loan associations. Title VIII provides that any state may reject
applicability of the provisions of Title VIII by adopting, prior to October
15, 1985, a law or constitutional provision expressly rejecting the
applicability of these provisions. Certain states have taken this type of
action.
The depositor has been advised by its counsel that it is their opinion
that a court interpreting Title VIII would hold that ARMs that were originated
by state-chartered lenders before the date of enactment of any state law or
constitutional provision rejecting applicability of Title VIII would not be
subject to state laws imposing restrictions or prohibitions on the ability of
state-chartered lenders to originate alternative mortgage instruments.
Manufactured Home Loans
Security Interests in the Manufactured Homes
Law governing perfection of a security interest in a Manufactured Home
varies from state to state. Security interests in Manufactured Homes may be
perfected either by notation of the secured party's lien on the certificate of
title or by delivery of the required documents and payment of a fee to the
state motor vehicle authority, depending on state law. In some nontitle
states, perfection pursuant to the provisions of the UCC is required. The
lender or a servicer may effect a notation or delivery of the required
documents and fees, and obtain possession of the certificate of title, as
appropriate under the laws of the state in which any manufactured home
securing a Manufactured Home Loan is registered. In the event the notation or
delivery is not effected or the security interest is not filed in accordance
with the applicable law (for example, is filed under a motor vehicle title
statute rather than under the UCC, in a few states), a first priority security
interest in the Manufactured Home securing a Manufactured Home Loan may not be
obtained.
As Manufactured Homes have become larger and often have been attached to
their sites without any apparent intention to move them, courts in many states
have held that Manufactured Homes, under certain circumstances, may become
subject to real estate title and recording laws. As a result, a security
interest in a Manufactured Home could be rendered subordinate to the interests
of other parties claiming an interest in the Manufactured Home under
applicable state real estate law. In order to perfect a security interest in a
Manufactured Home under real estate laws, the holder of the security interest
must file either a "fixture filing" under the provisions of the UCC or a real
estate mortgage under the real estate laws of the state where the home is
located. These filings must be made in the real estate records office of the
county where the home is located.
Manufactured Home Loans typically contain provisions prohibiting the
borrower from permanently attaching the Manufactured Home to its site. So long
as the borrower does not violate this agreement, a security interest in the
Manufactured Home will be governed by the certificate of title laws or the
UCC, and the notation of the security interest on the certificate of title or
the filing of a UCC financing statement will be effective to maintain the
priority of the security interest in the Manufactured Home. If, however, a
Manufactured Home is permanently attached to its site, other parties could
obtain an interest in the Manufactured Home that is prior to the security
interest originally retained by the lender or its assignee. With respect to a
series of Securities evidencing interests in a trust fund that includes
Manufactured Home Loans and as described in the prospectus supplement, the
depositor may be required to perfect a security interest in the Manufactured
Home under applicable real estate laws. If the real estate filings are not
made and if any of the foregoing events were to occur, the only recourse of
the securityholders would be against the depositor pursuant to its repurchase
obligation for breach of warranties. A PMBS Agreement pursuant to which
Private Mortgage-Backed Securities backed by Manufactured Home Loans are
issued will, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, have
substantially similar requirements for perfection of a security interest.
In general, upon an assignment of a Manufactured Home Loan, the
certificate of title relating to the Manufactured Home will not be amended to
identify the assignee as the new secured party. In most states, an assignment
is an effective conveyance of the security interest without amendment of any
lien noted on the related certificate of title and the new secured party
succeeds to the assignor's rights as the secured party. However, in some
states there exists a risk that, in the absence of an amendment to the
certificate of title, the assignment of the security interest might not be
held effective against creditors of the assignor.
Relocation of a Manufactured Home
In the event that the owner of a Manufactured Home moves the home to a
state other than the state in which the Manufactured Home initially is
registered, under the laws of most states the perfected security interest in
the Manufactured Home would continue for four months after relocation and
thereafter only if and after the owner reregisters the Manufactured Home in
the state. If the owner were to relocate a Manufactured Home to another state
and not reregister the Manufactured Home in the state, and if steps are not
taken to reperfect the trustee's security interest in the state, the security
interest in the Manufactured Home would cease to be perfected.
A majority of states generally require surrender of a certificate of
title to reregister a Manufactured Home; accordingly, possession of the
certificate of title to the Manufactured Home must be surrendered or, in the
case of Manufactured Homes registered in states that provide for notation of
lien, the notice of surrender must be given to any person whose security
interest in the Manufactured Home is noted on the certificate of title.
Accordingly, the owner of the Manufactured Home Loan would have the
opportunity to reperfect its security interest in the Manufactured Home in the
state of relocation. In states that do not require a certificate of title for
registration of a Manufactured Home, reregistration could defeat perfection.
In the ordinary course of servicing the Manufactured Home Loans, the
master servicer will be required to take steps to effect reperfection upon
receipt of notice of reregistration or information from the borrower as to
relocation. Similarly, when a borrower under a Manufactured Home Loan sells
the related Manufactured Home, the trustee must surrender possession of the
certificate of title or the trustee will receive notice as a result of its
lien noted thereon and accordingly will have an opportunity to require
satisfaction of the related Manufactured Home Loan before release of the lien.
Under the Agreements, the depositor is obligated to take these steps, at the
servicer's expense, as are necessary to maintain perfection of security
interests in the Manufactured Homes. PMBS Agreements pursuant to which Private
Mortgage-Backed Securities backed by Manufactured Home Loans are issued will
impose substantially similar requirements.
Intervening Liens
Under the laws of most states, liens for repairs performed on a
Manufactured Home take priority even over a perfected security interest. The
depositor will represent that it has no knowledge of any such liens with
respect to any Manufactured Home securing payment on any Manufactured Home
Loan. However, the liens could arise at any time during the term of a
Manufactured Home Loan. No notice will be given to the trustee or
securityholders in the event a lien arises. PMBS Agreements pursuant to which
Private Mortgage-Backed Securities backed by Manufactured Home Loans are
issued will contain substantially similar requirements.
Enforcement of Security Interests in Manufactured Homes
So long as the Manufactured Home has not become subject to the real
estate law, a creditor can repossess a Manufactured Home securing a
Manufactured Home Loan by voluntary surrender, by "self-help" repossession
that is "peaceful" (i.e., without breach of the peace) or in the absence of
voluntary surrender and the ability to repossess without breach of the peace,
by judicial process. The holder of a Manufactured Home Loan must give the
debtor a number of days' notice, which varies from 10 to 30 days depending on
the state, prior to commencement of any repossession. The UCC and consumer
protection laws in most states place restrictions on repossession sales,
including requiring prior notice to the debtor and commercial reasonableness
in effecting the sale. The law in most states also requires that the debtor be
given notice of any sale prior to resale of the unit so that the debtor may
redeem at or before the resale. In the event of repossession and resale of a
Manufactured Home, the holder of a Manufactured Home Loan would be entitled to
be paid out of the sale proceeds before the proceeds could be applied to the
payment of the claims of unsecured creditors or the holders of subsequently
perfected security interests or, thereafter, to the borrower.
Under the laws applicable in most states, a creditor is entitled to
obtain a deficiency judgment from a borrower for any deficiency on
repossession and resale of the Manufactured Home securing the borrower's loan.
However, some states impose prohibitions or limitations on deficiency
judgments. See "Antideficiency Legislation and Other Limitations on Lenders"
above.
Certain other statutory provisions, including federal and state
bankruptcy and insolvency laws and general equitable principles, may limit or
delay the ability of a lender to repossess and resell collateral or enforce a
deficiency judgment. See "Federal Bankruptcy and Other Laws Affecting
Creditors' Rights" and "Equitable Limitations on Remedies" above.
Consumer Protection Laws
The so-called "Holder-In-Due-Course" rule of the Federal Trade Commission
is intended to defeat the ability of the transferor of a consumer credit
contract who is the seller of goods that gave rise to the transaction (and
certain related lenders and assignees) to transfer the contract free of notice
of claims by the borrower thereunder. The effect of this rule is to subject
the assignee of the contract to all claims and defenses that the borrower
could assert against the seller of goods. Liability under this rule is limited
to amounts paid under a Manufactured Home Loan; however, the borrower also may
be able to assert the rule to set off remaining amounts due as a defense
against a claim brought against the borrower. Numerous other federal and state
consumer protection laws impose requirements applicable to the origination and
lending pursuant to the Manufactured Home Loan, including the Truth-in-Lending
Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Fair Credit Billing Act, the Fair
Credit Reporting Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Debt
Collection Practices Act and the Uniform Consumer Credit Code. In the case of
some of these laws, the failure to comply with their provisions may affect the
enforceability of the related Manufactured Home Loan.
Transfers of Manufactured Homes; Enforceability of "Due-on-Sale" Clauses
Loans and installment sale contracts relating to a Manufactured Home Loan
typically prohibit the sale or transfer of the related Manufactured Homes
without the consent of the lender and permit the acceleration of the maturity
of the Manufactured Home Loans by the lender upon any the sale or transfer for
which no the consent is granted.
In the case of a transfer of a Manufactured Home, the lender's ability to
accelerate the maturity of the related Manufactured Home Loan will depend on
the enforceability under state law of the "due-on-sale" clause. The Garn-St.
Germain Depositary Institutions Act of 1982 preempts, subject to certain
exceptions and conditions, state laws prohibiting enforcement of "due-on-sale"
clauses applicable to the Manufactured Homes. See "Due On Sale Clauses in
Mortgage Loans" above. With respect to any Manufactured Home Loan secured by a
Manufactured Home occupied by the borrower, the ability to accelerate will not
apply to those types of transfers discussed in "Due On Sale Clauses in
Mortgage Loans" above. FHA Loans and VA Loans are not permitted to contain
"due-on-sale" clauses, and so are freely assumable.
Applicability of Usury Laws
Title V provides that, subject to the following conditions, state usury
limitations will not apply to any loan that is secured by a first lien on
certain kinds of Manufactured Homes. The Manufactured Home Loans would be
covered if they satisfy certain conditions, among other things, governing the
terms of any prepayments, late charges and deferral fees and requiring a
30-day notice period prior to instituting any action leading to repossession
of or foreclosure with respect to the related unit. See "Applicability of
Usury Laws" above.
Material Federal Income Tax Considerations
General
The following discussion represents the opinion of Brown & Wood LLP as to
the material federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and
disposition of the Offered Securities. This opinion assumes compliance with
all provisions of the Agreements pursuant to which the Securities are issued.
This discussion is directed solely to securityholders that hold the Securities
as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and does not purport to discuss all
federal income tax consequences that may be applicable to particular
categories of investors, some of which (such as banks, insurance companies and
foreign investors) may be subject to special rules. Further, this discussion
is based on authorities that are subject to changes that could apply
retroactively.
In addition to the federal income tax consequences described herein,
potential investors should consider the state and local tax consequences, if
any, of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Securities. See "State
Tax Considerations." The depositor recommends that securityholders consult
their own tax advisors concerning the federal, state, local or other tax
consequences to them of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Offered
Securities.
The following discussion addresses Securities of five general types:
o REMIC Securities representing interests in a trust fund, or a portion
thereof, that the trustee will elect to have treated as a real estate
mortgage investment conduit ("REMIC") under Sections 860A through 860G
(the "REMIC Provisions") of the Code;
o FASIT Securities representing interests in a trust fund, or a portion
thereof, that the trustee will elect to have treated as a financial
asset securitization investment trust ("FASIT") under Sections 860H
through 860L (the "FASIT Provisions") of the Code;
o Grantor Trust Securities representing interests in a trust fund (a
"Grantor Trust Fund") as to which no REMIC or FASIT election will be
made and which will be treated as a trust for federal income tax
purposes;
o Partnership Securities representing interests in a trust fund (a
"Partnership Trust Fund") that is treated as a partnership for federal
income tax purposes; and
o Debt Securities representing indebtedness of a Partnership Trust Fund
of the beneficial owner of a Grantor Trust Fund for federal income tax
purposes.
The prospectus supplement for each series of Securities will indicate
which of the foregoing treatments will apply to that series and, if a REMIC
election (or elections) will be made for the related trust fund, will identify
all "regular interests" and "residual interests" in the REMIC or, if a FASIT
election will be made for the related trust fund, will identify all "regular
interests" and "ownership interest" in the FASIT. For purposes of this tax
discussion, (1) references to a "securityholder" or a "holder" are to the
beneficial owner of a Security, and (2) references to "REMIC Pool" are to an
entity or portion thereof as to which a REMIC election will be made.
The following discussion is based in part upon the rules governing
original issue discount that are set forth in Sections 1271 through 1273 and
1275 of the Code and in the Treasury regulations issued thereunder (the "OID
Regulations"), in part upon the REMIC Provisions and the Treasury regulations
issued thereunder (the "REMIC Regulations"), and in part upon the FASIT
Provisions. The FASIT Provisions of the Code became effective on September 1,
1997. The Treasury Department, on February 7, 2000, released proposed
regulations interpreting the FASIT Provisions and the proposed regulations
would only become effective at the time they are issued in final form.
Accordingly, definitive guidance cannot be provided with respect to many
aspects of the tax treatment of the holders of FASIT Securities. In addition,
the OID Regulations do not adequately address certain issues relevant to, and
in some instances provide that they are not applicable to, securities such as
the Securities.
Taxable Mortgage Pools
Corporate income tax can be imposed on the net income of certain entities
issuing non-REMIC debt obligations secured by real estate mortgages ("Taxable
Mortgage Pools"). Any entity other than a REMIC or a FASIT (as defined herein)
will be considered a Taxable Mortgage Pool if (1) substantially all of the
assets of the entity consist of debt obligations and more than 50% of those
obligations consist of "real estate mortgages," (2) that entity is the
borrower under debt obligations with two or more maturities, and (3) under the
terms of the debt obligations on which the entity is the borrower, payments on
those obligations bear a relationship to payments on the obligations held by
the entity. Furthermore, a group of assets held by an entity can be treated as
a separate Taxable Mortgage Pool if the assets are expected to produce
significant cash flow that will support one or more of the entity's issues of
debt obligations. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the depositor will structure offerings of non-REMIC Securities to
avoid the application of the Taxable Mortgage Pool rules.
REMICs
Classification of REMICs
For each series of REMIC Securities, assuming compliance with all
provisions of the related trust agreement, in the opinion of Brown & Wood LLP,
the related trust fund (or each applicable portion thereof) will qualify as a
REMIC and the REMIC Securities offered with respect thereto will be considered
to evidence ownership of "regular interests" ("Regular Securities") or
"residual interests" ("Residual Securities") in the REMIC within the meaning
of the REMIC Provisions. In addition, to the extent provided in the applicable
prospectus supplement, Regular Securities may also evidence ownership of an
interest in a notional principal contract. See "Characterization of
Investments in REMIC Securities" below.
For the REMIC Pool to qualify as a REMIC, the REMIC Pool must
continuously comply with the REMIC Provisions. The REMIC Pool must fulfill an
asset test, which requires that no more than a de minimis portion of the
assets of the REMIC Pool, as of the close of the third calendar month
beginning after the "Startup Day" (which for purposes of this discussion is
the date of issuance of the REMIC Securities) and at all times thereafter, may
consist of assets other than "qualified mortgages" and "permitted
investments." The REMIC Regulations provide a safe harbor pursuant to which
the de minimis requirement will be met if at all times the total adjusted
basis of the nonqualified assets is less than 1% of the total adjusted basis
of all the REMIC Pool's assets. An entity that fails to meet the safe harbor
may nevertheless demonstrate that it holds no more than a de minimis amount of
nonqualified assets. A REMIC Pool also must provide "reasonable arrangements"
to prevent its residual interests from being held by "disqualified
organizations" or agents thereof and must furnish applicable tax information
to transferors or agents that violate this requirement. The trust agreement
for each series of REMIC Securities will contain provisions meeting these
requirements. See "--Taxation of Owners of Residual Securities--Tax-Related
Restrictions on Transfer of Residual Securities--Disqualified Organizations"
below.
A qualified mortgage is any obligation that is principally secured by an
interest in real property and that is either transferred to the REMIC Pool on
the Startup Day or is purchased by the REMIC Pool within a three-month period
thereafter pursuant to a fixed price contract in effect on the Startup Day.
Qualified mortgages include whole mortgage loans and, generally, certificates
of beneficial interest in a grantor trust that holds mortgage loans and
regular interests in another REMIC, such as lower-tier regular interests in a
tiered REMIC. The REMIC Regulations specify that loans secured by timeshare
interests, shares held by a tenant stockholder in a cooperative housing
corporation, and manufactured housing that qualifies as a "single family
residence" under Code Section 25(e)(10) can be qualified mortgages. A
qualified mortgage includes a qualified replacement mortgage, which is any
property that would have been treated as a qualified mortgage if it were
transferred to the REMIC Pool on the Startup Day and that is received either:
o in exchange for any qualified mortgage within a three-month period
thereafter; or
o in exchange for a "defective obligation" within a two-year period
thereafter.
A "defective obligation" includes:
(1) a mortgage in default or as to which default is reasonably
foreseeable;
(2) a mortgage as to which a customary representation or warranty made at
the time of transfer to the REMIC Pool has been breached;
(3) a mortgage that was fraudulently procured by the borrower; and
(4) a mortgage that was not in fact principally secured by real property
(but only if the mortgage is disposed of within 90 days of discovery).
A mortgage loan that is "defective" as described in clause (4) above that
is not sold or, if within two years of the Startup Day, exchanged, within 90
days of discovery, ceases to be a qualified mortgage after that 90-day period.
Permitted investments include cash flow investments, qualified reserve
assets, and foreclosure property. A cash flow investment is an investment,
earning a return in the nature of interest, of amounts received on or with
respect to qualified mortgages for a temporary period, not exceeding 13
months, until the next scheduled distribution to holders of interests in the
REMIC Pool. A qualified reserve asset is any intangible property held for
investment that is part of any reasonably required reserve maintained by the
REMIC Pool to provide for payments of expenses of the REMIC Pool or amounts
due on the regular or residual interests in the event of defaults (including
delinquencies) on the qualified mortgages, lower than expected reinvestment
returns, prepayment interest shortfalls and certain other contingencies. The
reserve fund will be disqualified if more than 30% of the gross income from
the assets in that fund for the year is derived from the sale or other
disposition of property held for less than three months, unless required to
prevent a default on the regular interests caused by a default on one or more
qualified mortgages. A reserve fund must be reduced "promptly and
appropriately" as payments on the mortgage loans are received. Foreclosure
property is real property acquired by the REMIC Pool in connection with the
default or imminent default of a qualified mortgage and generally may not be
held for more than three taxable years after the taxable year of acquisition
unless extensions are granted by the Secretary of the Treasury.
In addition to the foregoing requirements, the various interests in a
REMIC Pool also must meet certain requirements. All of the interests in a
REMIC Pool must be either of the following: (1) one or more classes of regular
interests or (2) a single class of residual interests on which distributions,
if any, are made pro rata.
o A regular interest is an interest in a REMIC Pool that is issued on
the Startup Day with fixed terms, is designated as a regular interest,
and unconditionally entitles the holder to receive a specified
principal amount (or other similar amount), and provides that interest
payments (or other similar amounts), if any, at or before maturity
either are payable based on a fixed rate or a qualified variable rate,
or consist of a specified, nonvarying portion of the interest payments
on qualified mortgages. That specified portion may consist of a fixed
number of basis points, a fixed percentage of the total interest, or a
qualified variable rate, inverse variable rate or difference between
two fixed or qualified variable rates on some or all of the qualified
mortgages. The specified principal amount of a regular interest that
provides for interest payments consisting of a specified, nonvarying
portion of interest payments on qualified mortgages may be zero.
o A residual interest is an interest in a REMIC Pool other than a
regular interest that is issued on the Startup Day and that is
designated as a residual interest.
An interest in a REMIC Pool may be treated as a regular interest even if
payments of principal for that interest are subordinated to payments on other
regular interests or the residual interest in the REMIC Pool, and are
dependent on the absence of defaults or delinquencies on qualified mortgages
or permitted investments, lower than reasonably expected returns on permitted
investments, unanticipated expenses incurred by the REMIC Pool or prepayment
interest shortfalls.
If an entity electing to be treated as a REMIC fails to comply with one
or more of the ongoing requirements of the REMIC Provisions during any taxable
year, the REMIC Provisions provide that the entity will not be treated as a
REMIC for that year and thereafter. In that event, that entity may be taxable
as a corporation under Treasury regulations, and the related REMIC Securities
may not be accorded the status or given the tax treatment described below.
Although the REMIC Provisions authorize the Treasury Department to issue
regulations providing relief in the event of an inadvertent termination of
REMIC status, the Treasury Department has not issued any such regulations. Any
relief provided, moreover, may be accompanied by sanctions, such as the
imposition of a corporate tax on all or a portion of the trust fund's income
for the period in which the requirements for that status are not satisfied.
The trust agreement for each REMIC Pool will include provisions designed to
maintain the trust fund's status as a REMIC under the REMIC Provisions. The
depositor does not anticipate that the status of any REMIC Pool as a REMIC
will be terminated.
Characterization of Investments in REMIC Securities
To the extent provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, a Regular
Security could represent not only the ownership of a REMIC regular interest,
but also an interest a notional principal contract. This can occur. For
instance, when the applicable trust agreement provides that the rate of
interest payable by the REMIC on the regular interest is subject to a cap
based on the weighted average of the net interest rates payable on the
qualified mortgages held by the REMIC. In these instances, the trust agreement
may provide for a reserve fund that will be held as part of the trust fund but
not as an asset of any REMIC created pursuant to the trust agreement (an"
outside reserve fund"). The outside reserve fund would typically be funded
from monthly excess cashflow. If the interest payments on a regular interest
were limited due to the above-described cap, payments of any interest
shortfall due to application of that cap would be made to the regular interest
holder to the extent of funds on deposit in the outside reserve fund. For
federal income tax purposes, payments from the outside reserve fund will be
treated as payments under a notional principal contract written by the owner
of the outsider reserve fund in favor of the regular interest holders.
In the opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, the REMIC Securities (or the regular
interest component of a Regular Security that also represents ownership of an
interest in a notional principal contract) will be treated as "real estate
assets" within the meaning of Section 856(c)(4)(A) of the Code and assets
described in Section 7701(a)(19)(C) of the Code in the same proportion that
the assets of the REMIC Pool underlying these Securities would be so treated.
Moreover, if 95% or more of the assets of the REMIC Pool qualify for either of
the foregoing treatments at all times during a calendar year, the REMIC
Securities will qualify for the corresponding status in their entirety for
that calendar year.
Interest (including original issue discount) on the Regular Securities
(or the regular interest component of a Regular Security that also represents
ownership of an interest in a notional principal contract) and income
allocated to the class of Residual Securities will be interest described in
Section 856(c)(3)(B) of the Code to the extent that the Securities are treated
as "real estate assets" within the meaning of Section 856(c)(4)(A) of the
Code. In addition, in the opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, the Regular Securities
generally will be "qualified mortgages" within the meaning of Section
860G(a)(3) of the Code if transferred to another REMIC on its Startup Day in
exchange for regular or residual interests therein.
The determination as to the percentage of the REMIC Pool's assets that
constitute assets described in the foregoing sections of the Code will be made
for each calendar quarter based on the average adjusted basis of each category
of the assets held by the REMIC Pool during that calendar quarter. The REMIC
will report those determinations to securityholders in the manner and at the
times required by applicable Treasury regulations. The Small Business Job
Protection Act of 1996 (the "SBJPA of 1996") repealed the reserve method of
bad debts of domestic building and loan associations and mutual savings banks,
and thus has eliminated the asset category of "qualifying real property loans"
in former Code Section 593(d) for taxable years beginning after December 31,
1995. The requirements in the SBJPA of 1996 that these institutions must
"recapture" a portion of their existing bad debt reserves is suspended if a
certain portion of their assets are maintained in "residential loans" under
Code Section 7701(a)(19)(C)(v), but only if those loans were made to acquire,
construct or improve the related real property and not for the purpose of
refinancing. However, no effort will be made to identify the portion of the
mortgage loans of any series meeting this requirement, and no representation
is made in this regard.
The assets of the REMIC Pool will include, in addition to mortgage loans,
payments on mortgage loans held pending distribution on the REMIC Securities
and property acquired by foreclosure held pending sale, and may include
amounts in reserve accounts. It is unclear whether property acquired by
foreclosure held pending sale and amounts in reserve accounts would be
considered to be part of the mortgage loans, or whether those assets (to the
extent not invested in assets described in the foregoing sections) otherwise
would receive the same treatment as the mortgage loans for purposes of all of
the foregoing sections. The REMIC Regulations do provide, however, that
payments on mortgage loans held pending distribution are considered part of
the mortgage loans for purposes of Section 856(c)(4)(A) of the Code.
Furthermore, foreclosure property generally will qualify as "real estate
assets" under Section 856(c)(4)(A) of the Code.
Tiered REMIC Structures
For some series of REMIC Securities, two or more separate elections may
be made to treat designated portions of the related trust fund as REMICs
("Tiered REMICs") for federal income tax purposes. Upon the issuance of any of
these series of REMIC Securities, Brown & Wood LLP will deliver its opinion
that, assuming compliance with all provisions of the related trust agreement,
the Tiered REMICs will each qualify as a REMIC and the respective REMIC
Securities issued by each Tiered REMIC will be considered to evidence
ownership of Regular Securities or Residual Securities in the related REMIC
within the meaning of the REMIC Provisions.
Solely for purposes of determining whether the REMIC Securities will be
"real estate assets" within the meaning of Section 856(c)(4)(A) of the Code
and "loans secured by an interest in real property" under Section
7701(a)(19)(C) of the Code, and whether the income on those Securities is
interest described in Section 856(c)(3)(B) of the Code, the Tiered REMICs will
be treated as one REMIC.
Taxation of Owners of REMIC Regular Interests
(1) General
In general, interest, original issue discount, and market discount on a
regular interest will be treated as ordinary income to a holder of the regular
interest, and principal payments on a regular interest will be treated as a
return of capital to the extent of the regular interest holder's basis in the
regular interest allocable thereto. regular interest holders must use the
accrual method of accounting with regard to regular interest, regardless of
the method of accounting otherwise used by that regular interest holder.
(2) Original Issue Discount
Accrual Securities will be, and other classes of regular interests may
be, issued with "original issue discount" within the meaning of Code Section
1273(a). Holders of any class of regular interests having original issue
discount generally must include original issue discount in ordinary income for
federal income tax purposes as it accrues, in accordance with a constant yield
method that takes into account the compounding of interest, in advance of the
receipt of the cash attributable to that income. The following discussion is
based in part on the OID Regulations and in part on the provisions of the Tax
Reform Act of 1986 (the "1986 Act"). Regular interest holders should be aware,
however, that the OID Regulations do not adequately address certain issues
relevant to prepayable securities, such as the regular interests . To the
extent that those issues are not addressed in the regulations, the depositor
intends to apply the methodology described in the Conference Committee Report
to the 1986 Act. No assurance can be provided that the Internal Revenue
Service will not take a different position as to those matters not currently
addressed by the OID Regulations. Moreover, the OID Regulations include an
anti-abuse rule allowing the Internal Revenue Service to apply or depart from
the OID Regulations where necessary or appropriate to ensure a reasonable tax
result because of the applicable statutory provisions. A tax result will not
be considered unreasonable under the anti-abuse rule in the absence of a
substantial effect on the present value of a taxpayer's tax liability.
Investors are advised to consult their own tax advisors as to the discussion
therein and the appropriate method for reporting interest and original issue
discount for the regular interests.
Each regular interest (except to the extent described below for a regular
interest on which principal is distributed in a single installment or by lots
of specified principal amounts upon the request of a securityholder or by
random lot (a "non-pro rata security")) will be treated as a single
installment obligation for purposes of determining the original issue discount
ineludible in a regular interest holder's income. The total amount of original
issue discount on a regular interest is the excess of the "stated redemption
price at maturity" of the regular interest over its "issue price." The issue
price of a class of regular interests offered pursuant to this prospectus
generally is the first price at which a substantial amount of that class is
sold to the public (excluding bond houses, brokers and underwriters). Although
unclear under the OID Regulations, it is anticipated that the trustee will
treat the issue price of a class as to which there is no substantial sale as
of the issue date or that is retained by the depositor as the fair market
value of the class as of the issue date. The issue price of a regular interest
also includes any amount paid by an initial regular interest holder for
accrued interest that relates to a period before the issue date of the regular
interest, unless the regular interest holder elects on its federal income tax
return to exclude that amount from the issue price and to recover it on the
first distribution date.
The stated redemption price at maturity of a regular interest always
includes the original principal amount of the regular interest, but generally
will not include distributions of interest if those distributions constitute
"qualified stated interest." Under the OID Regulations, qualified stated
interest generally means interest payable at a single fixed rate or a
qualified variable rate (as described below), provided that the interest
payments are unconditionally payable at intervals of one year or less during
the entire term of the regular interest. Because there is no penalty or
default remedy in the case of nonpayment of interest for a regular interest,
it is possible that no interest on any class of regular interests will be
treated as qualified stated interest. However, except as provided in the
following three sentences or in the prospectus supplement, because the
underlying mortgage loans provide for remedies in the event of default, it is
anticipated that the trustee will treat interest for the regular interests as
qualified stated interest. Distributions of interest on an accrual security,
or on other regular interests for which deferred interest will accrue, will
not constitute qualified stated interest, in which case the stated redemption
price at maturity of those regular interests includes all distributions of
interest as well as principal thereon. Likewise, it is anticipated that the
trustee will treat an interest-only class or a class on which interest is
substantially disproportionate to its principal amount (a so-called
"super-premium" class) as having no qualified stated interest. Where the
interval between the issue date and the first distribution date on a regular
interest is shorter than the interval between subsequent distribution dates,
the interest attributable to the additional days will be included in the
stated redemption price at maturity.
Under a de minimis rule, original issue discount on a regular interest
will be considered to be zero if the original issue discount is less than
0.25% of the stated redemption price at maturity of the regular interest
multiplied by the weighted average maturity of the regular interest. For this
purpose, the weighted average maturity of the regular interest is computed as
the sum of the amounts determined by multiplying the number of full years
(i.e., rounding down partial years) from the issue date until each
distribution in reduction of stated redemption price at maturity is scheduled
to be made by a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of each
distribution included in the stated redemption price at maturity of the
regular interest and the denominator of which is the stated redemption price
at maturity of the regular interest. The Conference Committee Report to the
1986 Act provides that the schedule of those distributions should be
determined in accordance with the assumed rate of prepayment of the mortgage
loans (the "prepayment assumption") and the anticipated reinvestment rate, if
any, relating to the regular interests. The prepayment assumption for a series
of regular interests will be set forth in the prospectus supplement. Holders
generally must report de minimis original issue discount pro rata as principal
payments are received, and that income will be capital gain if the regular
interest is held as a capital asset. Under the OID Regulations, however,
regular interest holders may elect to accrue all de minimis original issue
discount as well as market discount and market premium, under the constant
yield method. See "-Election to Treat All Interest Under the Constant Yield
Method" below.
A regular interest holder generally must include in gross income for any
taxable year the sum of the "daily portions," as defined below, of the
original issue discount on the regular interest accrued during an accrual
period for each day on which it holds the regular interest, including the date
of purchase but excluding the date of disposition. The trustee will treat the
monthly period ending on the day before each Distribution Date as the accrual
period. For each regular interest, a calculation will be made of the original
issue discount that accrues during each successive full accrual period (or
shorter period from the date of original issue) that ends on the day before
the related Distribution Date on the regular interest. The Conference
Committee Report to the 1986 Act states that the rate of accrual of original
issue discount is intended to be based on the prepayment assumption. The
original issue discount accruing in a full accrual period would be the excess,
if any, of:
(1) the sum of:
(a) the present value of all of the remaining distributions to be
made on the regular interest as of the end of that accrual period
and
(b) the distributions made on the regular interest during the
accrual period that are included in the regular interest's stated
redemption price at maturity, over
(2) the adjusted issue price of the regular interest at the beginning of
the accrual period.
The present value of the remaining distributions referred to in the preceding
sentence is calculated based on:
(1) the yield to maturity of the regular interest at the issue date;
(2) events (including actual prepayments) that have occurred before the
end of the accrual period; and
(3) the Prepayment Assumption.
For these purposes, the adjusted issue price of a regular interest at the
beginning of any accrual period equals the issue price of the regular
interest, increased by the total amount of original issue discount for the
regular interest that accrued in all prior accrual periods and reduced by the
amount of distributions included in the regular interest's stated redemption
price at maturity that were made on the regular interest in those prior
periods. The original issue discount accruing during any accrual period (as
determined in this paragraph) will then be divided by the number of days in
the period to determine the daily portion of original issue discount for each
day in the period. For an initial accrual period shorter than a full accrual
period, the daily portions of original issue discount must be determined
according to an appropriate allocation under any reasonable method.
Under the method described above, the daily portions of original issue
discount required to be included in income by a regular interest holder
generally will increase to take into account prepayments on the Regular
Securities as a result of prepayments on the mortgage loans that exceed the
Prepayment Assumption, and generally will decrease (but not below zero for any
period) if the prepayments are slower than the Prepayment Assumption. An
increase in prepayments on the mortgage loans for a series of Regular
Securities can result in both a change in the priority of principal payments
for certain classes of Regular Securities and either an increase or decrease
in the daily portions of original issue discount for those Regular Securities.
In the case of a non-pro rata Security, it is anticipated that the
trustee will determine the yield to maturity based upon the anticipated
payment characteristics of the class as a whole under the prepayment
assumption. In general, the original issue discount accruing on each non-pro
rata Security in a full accrual period would be its allocable share of the
original issue discount for the entire class, as determined in accordance with
the preceding paragraph. However, in the case of a distribution in retirement
of the entire unpaid principal balance of any non-pro rata Security (or
portion of the unpaid principal balance), (a) the remaining unaccrued original
issue discount allocable to the Security (or to that portion) will accrue at
the time of the distribution, and (b) the accrual of original issue discount
allocable to each remaining Security of that class will be adjusted by
reducing the present value of the remaining payments on that class and the
adjusted issue price of that class to the extent attributable to the portion
of the unpaid principal balance thereof that was distributed. The depositor
believes that the foregoing treatment is consistent with the "pro rata
prepayment" rules of the OID Regulations, but with the rate of accrual of
original issue discount determined based on the prepayment assumption for the
class as a whole. Investors are advised to consult their tax advisors as to
this treatment.
(3) Acquisition Premium
A purchaser of a regular interest having original issue discount at a
price greater than its adjusted issue price but less than its stated
redemption price at maturity will be required to include in gross income the
daily portions of the original issue discount on the regular interest reduced
pro rata by a fraction, the numerator of which is the excess of its purchase
price over the adjusted issue price and the denominator of which is the excess
of the remaining stated redemption price at maturity over the adjusted issue
price. Alternatively, a subsequent purchaser may elect to treat all that
acquisition premium under the constant yield method, as described below under
the heading "--Election to Treat All Interest Under the Constant Yield Method"
below.
(4) Variable Rate Regular Securities
Regular interests may provide for interest based on a variable rate.
Under the OID Regulations, interest is treated as payable at a variable rate
if, generally, (1) the issue price does not exceed the original principal
balance by more than a specified amount and (2) the interest compounds or is
payable at least annually at current values of (a) one or more "qualified
floating rates," (b) a single fixed rate and one or more qualified floating
rates, (c) a single "objective rate," or (d) a single fixed rate and a single
objective rate that is a "qualified inverse floating rate." A floating rate is
a qualified floating rate if variations can reasonably be expected to measure
contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds. A multiple of
a qualified floating rate is considered a qualified floating rate only if the
rate is equal to either (a) the product of a qualified floating rate and a
fixed multiple that is greater than 0.65 but not more than 1.35 or (b) the
product of a qualified floating rate and a fixed multiple that is greater than
0.65 but not more than 1.35, increased or decreased by a fixed rate. That rate
may also be subject to a fixed cap or floor, or a cap or floor that is not
reasonably expected as of the issue date to affect the yield of the instrument
significantly. An objective rate is any rate (other than a qualified floating
rate) that is determined using a single fixed formula and that is based on
objective financial or economic information, provided that the information is
not (1) within the control of the issuer or a related party or (2) unique to
the circumstances of the issuer or a related party. A qualified inverse
floating rate is a rate equal to a fixed rate minus a qualified floating rate
that inversely reflects contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly
borrowed funds; an inverse floating rate that is not a qualified inverse
floating rate may nevertheless be an objective rate.
The amount of original issue discount for a regular interest bearing a
variable rate of interest will accrue in the manner described above under
"--Original Issue Discount," with the yield to maturity and future payments on
that regular interest generally to be determined by assuming that interest
will be payable for the life of the regular interest based on the initial rate
(or, if different, the value of the applicable variable rate as of the pricing
date) for the relevant class. Unless required otherwise by applicable final
regulations, it is anticipated that the trustee will treat that variable
interest as qualified stated interest, other than variable interest on an
interest-only or super-premium class. Ordinary income reportable for any
period will be adjusted based on subsequent changes in the applicable interest
rate index.
(5) Market Discount
A subsequent purchaser of a regular interest also may be subject to the
market discount rules of Code Sections 1276 through 1278. Under these sections
and the principles applied by the OID Regulations in the context of original
issue discount, "market discount" is the amount by which the purchaser's
original basis in the regular interest (1) is exceeded by the remaining
outstanding principal payments and interest payments other than qualified
stated interest payments due on a regular interest, or (2) in the case of a
regular interest having original issue discount, is exceeded by the adjusted
issue price of that regular interest at the time of purchase. The purchaser
generally will be required to recognize ordinary income to the extent of
accrued market discount on that regular interest as distributions includible
in the stated redemption price at maturity thereof are received, in an amount
not exceeding that distribution. The market discount would accrue in a manner
to be provided in Treasury regulations and should take into account the
Prepayment Assumption. The Conference Committee Report to the 1986 Act
provides that until these regulations are issued, the market discount would
accrue either (1) on the basis of a constant interest rate, or (2) in the
ratio of stated interest allocable to the relevant period to the sum of the
interest for that period plus the remaining interest as of the end of that
period, or in the case of a regular interest issued with original issue
discount, in the ratio of original issue discount accrued for the relevant
period to the sum of the original issue discount accrued for that period plus
the remaining original issue discount as of the end of that period.
The purchaser also generally will be required to treat a portion of any
gain on a sale or exchange of the regular interest as ordinary income to the
extent of the market discount accrued to the date of disposition under one of
the foregoing methods, less any accrued market discount previously reported as
ordinary income as partial distributions in reduction of the stated redemption
price at maturity were received.
The purchaser will be required to defer deduction of a portion of the
excess of the interest paid or accrued on indebtedness incurred to purchase or
carry a regular interest over the interest distributable thereon. The deferred
portion of the interest expense in any taxable year generally will not exceed
the accrued market discount on the regular interest for that year. Any
deferred interest expense is, in general, allowed as a deduction not later
than the year in which the related market discount income is recognized or the
regular interest is disposed of.
As an alternative to the inclusion of market discount in income on the
foregoing basis, the regular interest holder may elect to include market
discount in income currently as it accrues on all market discount instruments
acquired by the regular interest holder in that taxable year or thereafter, in
which case the interest deferral rule will not apply. See "--Election to Treat
All Interest Under the Constant Yield Method" below regarding an alternative
manner in which that election may be deemed to be made. A person who purchases
a regular interest at a price lower than the remaining amounts includible in
the stated redemption price at maturity of the Security, but higher than its
adjusted issue price, does not acquire the regular interest with market
discount, but will be required to report original issue discount,
appropriately adjusted to reflect the excess of the price paid over the
adjusted issue price.
Market discount for a regular interest will be considered to be zero if
the market discount is less than 0.25% of the remaining stated redemption
price at maturity of the regular interest (or, in the case of a regular
interest having original issue discount, the adjusted issue price of that
regular interest) multiplied by the weighted average maturity of the regular
interest (determined as described above in the third paragraph under
"--Original Issue Discount" above) remaining after the date of purchase. It
appears that de minimis market discount would be reported in a manner similar
to de minimis original issue discount. See "--Original Issue Discount" above.
Treasury regulations implementing the market discount rules have not yet
been issued, and uncertainty exists with respect to many aspects of those
rules. Due to the substantial lack of regulatory guidance with respect to the
market discount rules, it is unclear how those rules will affect any secondary
market that develops for a particular class of regular interests. Prospective
investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of
the market discount rules. Investors should also consult Revenue Procedure
92-67 concerning the elections to include market discount in income currently
and to accrue market discount on the basis of the constant yield method.
(6) Amortizable Premium
A regular interest purchased at a cost greater than its remaining stated
redemption price at maturity generally is considered to be purchased at a
premium. If the regular interest holder holds that regular interest as a
"capital asset" within the meaning of Code Section 1221, the regular interest
holder may elect under Code Section 171 to amortize the premium under a
constant yield method that reflects compounding based on the interval between
payments on the regular interest. The election will apply to all taxable debt
obligations (including REMIC regular interests) acquired by the regular
interest holder at a premium held in that taxable year or thereafter, unless
revoked with the permission of the Internal Revenue Service.
The Conference Committee Report to the 1986 Act indicates a Congressional
intent that the same rules that apply to the accrual of market discount on
installment obligations will also apply to amortizing bond premium under Code
Section 171 on installment obligations as the regular interests. Amortizable
bond premium generally will be treated as an offset to interest income on a
regular interest, rather than as a separate deductible item. See "--Election
to Treat All Interest Under the Constant Yield Method" below regarding an
alternative manner in which the Code Section 171 election may be deemed to be
made.
(7) Election to Treat All Interest Under the Constant Yield Method
A holder of a debt instrument such as a regular interest may elect to
treat all interest that accrues on the instrument using the constant yield
method, with none of the interest being treated as qualified stated interest.
For purposes of applying the constant yield method to a debt instrument
subject to this election, (1) "interest" includes stated interest, original
issue discount, de minimis original issue discount, market discount and de
minimis market discount, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium or
acquisition premium and (2) the debt instrument is treated as if the
instrument were issued on the holder's acquisition date in the amount of the
holder's adjusted basis immediately after acquisition. It is unclear whether,
for this purpose, the initial prepayment assumption would continue to apply or
if a new prepayment assumption as of the date of the holder's acquisition
would apply. A holder generally may make this election on an instrument by
instrument basis or for a class or group of debt instruments. However, if the
holder makes this election for a debt instrument with amortizable bond
premium, the holder is deemed to have made elections to amortize bond premium
currently as it accrues under the constant yield method for all premium bonds
held by the holder in the same taxable year or thereafter. Alternatively, if
the holder makes this election for a debt instrument with market discount, the
holder is deemed to have made elections to report market discount income
currently as it accrues under the constant yield method for all market
discount bonds acquired by the holder in the same taxable year or thereafter.
The election is made on the holder's federal income tax return for the year in
which the debt instrument is acquired and is irrevocable except with the
approval of the Internal Revenue Service. Investors should consult their own
tax advisors regarding the advisability of making this election.
(8) Treatment of Losses
Regular interest holders will be required to report income for regular
interests on the accrual method of accounting, without giving effect to delays
or reductions in distributions attributable to defaults or delinquencies on
the mortgage loans, except to the extent it can be established that the losses
are uncollectible. Accordingly, the holder of a regular interest, particularly
a subordinate Security, may have income, or may incur a diminution in cash
flow as a result of a default or delinquency, but may not be able to take a
deduction (subject to the discussion below) for the corresponding loss until a
subsequent taxable year. In this regard, investors are cautioned that while
they may generally cease to accrue interest income if it reasonably appears
that the interest will be uncollectible, the Internal Revenue Service may take
the position that original issue discount must continue to be accrued in spite
of its uncollectibility until the debt instrument is disposed of in a taxable
transaction or becomes worthless in accordance with the rules of Code Section
166.
To the extent the rules of Code Section 166 regarding bad debts are
applicable, it appears that regular interest holders that are corporations or
that otherwise hold the regular interests in connection with a trade or
business should in general be allowed to deduct as an ordinary loss that loss
with respect to principal sustained during the taxable year on account of any
regular interest becoming wholly or partially worthless, and that, in general,
regular interest holders that are not corporations and do not hold the regular
interests in connection with a trade or business should be allowed to deduct
as a short-term capital loss any loss sustained during the taxable year on
account of a portion of any regular interests becoming wholly worthless.
Although the matter is not free from doubt, non-corporate regular interest
holders should be allowed a bad debt deduction at the time the principal
balance of the regular interests is reduced to reflect losses resulting from
any liquidated mortgage loans. The Internal Revenue Service, however, could
take the position that non-corporate holders will be allowed a bad debt
deduction to reflect those losses only after all the mortgage loans remaining
in the trust fund have been liquidated or the applicable class of regular
interests has been otherwise retired. The Internal Revenue Service could also
assert that losses on the regular interests are deductible based on some other
method that may defer those deductions for all holders, such as reducing
future cashflow for purposes of computing original issue discount. This may
have the effect of creating "negative" original issue discount that would be
deductible only against future positive original issue discount or otherwise
upon termination of the class.
Regular interest holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors
regarding the appropriate timing, amount and character of any loss sustained
for their regular interests. While losses attributable to interest previously
reported as income should be deductible as ordinary losses by both corporate
and non-corporate holders, the Internal Revenue Service may take the position
that losses attributable to accrued original issue discount may only be
deducted as capital losses in the case of non-corporate holders who do not
hold the Regular Securities in connection with a trade or business.
(9) Sale or Exchange of Regular Securities
If a regular interest holder sells or exchanges a regular interest, the
regular interest holder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference,
if any, between the amount received and its adjusted basis in the regular
interest. The adjusted basis of a regular interest generally will equal the
original cost of the regular interest to the seller, increased by any original
issue discount or market discount previously included in the seller's gross
income for the regular interest and reduced by amounts included in the stated
redemption price at maturity of the regular interest that were previously
received by the seller, by any amortized premium, and by any recognized
losses.
Except as described above regarding market discount, and except as
provided in this paragraph, any gain or loss on the sale or exchange of a
regular interest realized by an investor who holds the regular interest as a
capital asset will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term or short-term
depending on whether the regular interest has been held for the long-term
capital gain holding period (currently, more than one year). Gain will be
treated as ordinary income
(1) if a regular interest is held as part of a "conversion transaction"
as defined in Code Section 1258(c), up to the amount of interest that
would have accrued on the regular interest holder's net investment in the
conversion transaction at 120% of the appropriate applicable federal rate
in effect at the time the taxpayer entered into the transaction minus any
amount previously treated as ordinary income for any prior disposition of
property that was held as part of that transaction;
(2) in the case of a non-corporate taxpayer, to the extent that the
taxpayer has made an election under Code Section 163(d)(4) to have net
capital gains taxed as investment income at ordinary income rates; or
(3) to the extent that the gain does not exceed the excess, if any, of
(a) the amount that would have been includible in the gross income of the
holder if its yield on that regular interest were 110% of the applicable
federal rate as of the date of purchase, over (b) the amount of income
actually includible in the gross income of the holder for that regular
interest.
In addition, gain or loss recognized from the sale of a regular interest
by certain banks or thrift institutions will be treated as ordinary income or
loss pursuant to Code Section 582(c). Long-term capital gains of certain
noncorporate taxpayers generally are subject to a lower maximum tax rate (20%)
than ordinary income of those taxpayers (39.6%) for property held for more
than one year. Currently, the maximum tax rate for corporations is the same
for both ordinary income and capital gains.
Taxation of Owners of Residual Securities
(1) Taxation of REMIC Income
Generally, the "daily portions" of REMIC taxable income or net loss will
be includible as ordinary income or loss in determining the federal taxable
income of holders of Residual Securities ("residual holders"), and will not be
taxed separately to the REMIC Pool. The daily portions of REMIC taxable income
or net loss of a residual holder are determined by allocating the REMIC Pool's
taxable income or net loss for each calendar quarter ratably to each day in
that quarter and by allocating that daily portion among the residual holders
in proportion to their respective holdings of Residual Securities in the REMIC
Pool on that day. REMIC taxable income is generally determined in the same
manner as the taxable income of an individual using the accrual method of
accounting, except that
(1) the limitations on deductibility of investment interest expense and
expenses for the production of income do not apply;
(2) all bad loans will be deductible as business bad debts; and
(3) the limitation on the deductibility of interest and expenses related
to tax-exempt income will apply.
The REMIC Pool's gross income includes interest, original issue discount
income and market discount income, if any, on the mortgage loans, reduced by
amortization of any premium on the mortgage loans, plus income from
amortization of issue premium, if any, on the regular interests, plus income
on reinvestment of cash flows and reserve assets, plus any cancellation of
indebtedness income upon allocation of realized losses to the regular
interests. The REMIC Pool's deductions include interest and original issue
discount expense on the regular interests, servicing fees on the mortgage
loans, other administrative expenses of the REMIC Pool and realized losses on
the mortgage loans. The requirement that residual holders report their pro
rata share of taxable income or net loss of the REMIC Pool will continue until
there are no Securities of any class of the related series outstanding.
The taxable income recognized by a residual holder in any taxable year
will be affected by, among other factors, the relationship between the timing
of recognition of interest, original issue discount or market discount income
or amortization of premium for the mortgage loans, on the one hand, and the
timing of deductions for interest (including original issue discount) or
income from amortization of issue premium on the regular interests, on the
other hand. If an interest in the mortgage loans is acquired by the REMIC Pool
at a discount, and one or more of these mortgage loans is prepaid, the
prepayment may be used in whole or in part to make distributions in reduction
of principal on the regular interests, and (2) the discount on the mortgage
loans that is includible in income may exceed the deduction allowed upon those
distributions on those regular interests on account of any unaccrued original
issue discount relating to those regular interests. When there is more than
one class of regular interests that distribute principal sequentially, this
mismatching of income and deductions is particularly likely to occur in the
early years following issuance of the regular interests when distributions in
reduction of principal are being made in respect of earlier classes of regular
interests to the extent that those classes are not issued with substantial
discount or are issued at a premium. If taxable income attributable to that
mismatching is realized, in general, losses would be allowed in later years as
distributions on the later maturing classes of regular interests are made.
Taxable income may also be greater in earlier years than in later years
as a result of the fact that interest expense deductions, expressed as a
percentage of the outstanding principal amount of that series of regular
interests, may increase over time as distributions in reduction of principal
are made on the lower yielding classes of regular interests, whereas, to the
extent the REMIC Pool consists of fixed rate mortgage loans, interest income
for any particular mortgage loan will remain constant over time as a
percentage of the outstanding principal amount of that loan. Consequently,
residual holders must have sufficient other sources of cash to pay any
federal, state, or local income taxes due as a result of that mismatching or
unrelated deductions against which to offset that income, subject to the
discussion of "excess inclusions" below under "--Limitations on Offset or
Exemption of REMIC Income." The timing of mismatching of income and deductions
described in this paragraph, if present for a series of Securities, may have a
significant adverse effect upon a residual holder's after-tax rate of return.
A portion of the income of a residual holder may be treated unfavorably
in three contexts:
(1) it may not be offset by current or net operating loss deductions;
(2) it will be considered unrelated business taxable income to tax-exempt
entities; and
(3) it is ineligible for any statutory or treaty reduction in the 30%
withholding tax otherwise available to a foreign residual holder.
See "--Limitations on Offset or Exemption of REMIC Income" below. In addition,
a residual holder's taxable income during certain periods may exceed the
income reflected by those residual holders for those periods in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles. Investors should consult their
own accountants concerning the accounting treatment of their investment in
Residual Securities.
(2) Basis and Losses
The amount of any net loss of the REMIC Pool that may be taken into
account by the residual holder is limited to the adjusted basis of the
Residual Security as of the close of the quarter (or time of disposition of
the Residual Security if earlier), determined without taking into account the
net loss for the quarter. The initial adjusted basis of a purchaser of a
Residual Security is the amount paid for that Residual Security. The adjusted
basis will be increased by the amount of taxable income of the REMIC Pool
reportable by the residual holder and will be decreased (but not below zero),
first, by a cash distribution from the REMIC Pool and, second, by the amount
of loss of the REMIC Pool reportable by the residual holder. Any loss that is
disallowed on account of this limitation may be carried over indefinitely with
respect to the residual holder as to whom the loss was disallowed and may be
used by the residual holder only to offset any income generated by the same
REMIC Pool.
A residual holder will not be permitted to amortize directly the cost of
its Residual Security as an offset to its share of the taxable income of the
related REMIC Pool. However, the taxable income will not include cash received
by the REMIC Pool that represents a recovery of the REMIC Pool's basis in its
assets. Although the law is unclear in some respects, the recovery of basis by
the REMIC Pool will have the effect of amortization of the issue price of the
Residual securities over their life. However, in view of the possible
acceleration of the income of residual holders described above under
"--Taxation of REMIC Income," the period of time over which the issue price is
effectively amortized may be longer than the economic life of the Residual
Securities.
A Residual Security may have a negative value if the net present value of
anticipated tax liabilities exceeds the present value of anticipated cash
flows. The REMIC Regulations appear to treat the issue price of the residual
interest as zero rather than the negative amount for purposes of determining
the REMIC Pool's basis in its assets. The preamble to the REMIC Regulations
states that the Internal Revenue Service may provide future guidance on the
proper tax treatment of payments made by a transferor of the residual interest
to induce the transferee to acquire the interest, and residual holders should
consult their own tax advisors in this regard.
Further, to the extent that the initial adjusted basis of a residual
holder (other than an original holder) in the Residual Security is greater
than the corresponding portion of the REMIC Pool's basis in the mortgage
loans, the residual holder will not recover a portion of the basis until
termination of the REMIC Pool unless future Treasury regulations provide for
periodic adjustments to the REMIC income otherwise reportable by the holder.
The REMIC Regulations currently in effect do not so provide. See "--Treatment
of Certain Items of REMIC Income and Expense--Market Discount" below regarding
the basis of mortgage loans to the REMIC Pool and "--Sale or Exchange of a
Residual Security" below regarding possible treatment of a loss upon
termination of the REMIC Pool as a capital loss.
(3) Treatment of Certain Items of REMIC Income and Expense
Although it is anticipated that the trustee will compute REMIC income and
expense in accordance with the Code and applicable regulations, the
authorities regarding the determination of specific items of income and
expense are subject to differing interpretations. The depositor makes no
representation as to the specific method that will be used for reporting
income with respect to the mortgage loans and expenses for the regular
interests, and different methods could result in different timing or reporting
of taxable income or net loss to residual holders or differences in capital
gain versus ordinary income.
Original Issue Discount and Premium. Generally, the REMIC Pool's
deductions for original issue discount and income from amortization of premium
will be determined in the same manner as original issue discount income on
regular interests as described above under "--Taxation of Owners of REMIC
Regular Interests--Original Issue Discount" and "--Variable Rate Regular
Securities," without regard to the de minimis rule described therein, and
"--Amortizable Premium."
Market Discount. The REMIC Pool will have market discount income in
respect of mortgage loans if, in general, the basis of the REMIC Pool in those
mortgage loans is exceeded by their unpaid principal balances. The REMIC
Pool's basis in those mortgage loans is generally the fair market value of the
mortgage loans immediately after the transfer thereof to the REMIC Pool. The
REMIC Regulations provide that the basis is equal to the total of the issue
prices of all regular and residual interests in the REMIC Pool. The accrued
portion of the market discount would be recognized currently as an item of
ordinary income in a manner similar to original issue discount. Market
discount income generally should accrue in the manner described above under
"--Taxation of Owners of REMIC Regular Interests--Market Discount."
Premium. Generally, if the basis of the REMIC Pool in the mortgage loans
exceeds the unpaid principal balances thereof, the REMIC Pool will be
considered to have acquired those mortgage loans at a premium equal to the
amount of that excess. As stated above, the REMIC Pool's basis in mortgage
loans is the fair market value of the mortgage loans, based on the total of
the issue prices of the regular and residual interests in the REMIC Pool
immediately after the transfer thereof to the REMIC Pool. In a manner
analogous to the discussion above under "--Taxation of Owners of REMIC Regular
Interests--Amortizable Premium," a person that holds a mortgage loan as a
capital asset under Code Section 1221 may elect under Code Section 171 to
amortize premium on mortgage loans originated after September 27, 1985, under
the constant yield method. Amortizable bond premium will be treated as an
offset to interest income on the mortgage loans, rather than as a separate
deduction item. Because substantially all of the borrowers on the mortgage
loans are expected to be individuals, Code Section 171 will not be available
for premium on mortgage loans originated on or before September 27, 1985.
Premium for those mortgage loans may be deductible in accordance with a
reasonable method regularly employed by the holder thereof. The allocation of
that premium pro rata among principal payments should be considered a
reasonable method; however, the Internal Revenue Service may argue that the
premium should be allocated in a different manner, such as allocating the
premium entirely to the final payment of principal.
(4) Limitations on Offset or Exemption of REMIC Income
A portion (or all) of the REMIC taxable income includible in determining
the federal income tax liability of a residual holder will be subject to
special treatment. That portion, referred to as the "excess inclusion," is
equal to the excess of REMIC taxable income for the calendar quarter allocable
to a Residual Security over the daily accruals for that quarterly period of
(1) 120% of the long-term applicable federal rate that would have applied to
the Residual Security (if it were a debt instrument) on the Startup Day under
Code Section 1274(d), multiplied by (2) the adjusted issue price of the
Residual Security at the beginning of the quarterly period. For this purpose,
the adjusted issue price of a Residual Security at the beginning of a quarter
is the issue price of the Residual Security, plus the amount of those daily
accruals of REMIC income described in this paragraph for all prior quarters,
decreased by any distributions made with respect to the Residual Security
before the beginning of that quarterly period. Accordingly, the portion of the
REMIC Pool's taxable income that will be treated as excess inclusions will be
a larger portion of that income as the adjusted issue price of the Residual
Securities diminishes.
The portion of a residual holder's REMIC taxable income consisting of the
excess inclusions generally may not be offset by other deductions, including
net operating loss carryforwards, on the residual holder's return. However,
net operating loss carryovers are determined without regard to excess
inclusion income. Further, if the residual holder is an organization subject
to the tax on unrelated business income imposed by Code Section 511, the
residual holder's excess inclusions will be treated as unrelated business
taxable income of the residual holder for purposes of Code Section 511. In
addition, REMIC taxable income is subject to 30% withholding tax for certain
persons who are not U.S. Persons (as defined below under "--Tax-Related
Restrictions on Transfer of Residual Securities--Foreign Investors"), and the
portion thereof attributable to excess inclusions is not eligible for any
reduction in the rate of withholding tax (by treaty or otherwise). See
"--Taxation of Certain Foreign Investors--Residual Securities" below. Finally,
if a real estate investment trust or a regulated investment company owns a
Residual Security, a portion (allocated under Treasury regulations yet to be
issued) of dividends paid by the real estate investment trust or regulated
investment company could not be offset by net operating losses of its
shareholders, would constitute unrelated business taxable income for
tax-exempt shareholders, and would be ineligible for reduction of withholding
to certain persons who are not U.S. Persons.
The SBJPA of 1996 has eliminated the special rule permitting Section 593
institutions ("thrift institutions") to use net operating losses and other
allowable deductions to offset their excess inclusion income from Residual
Securities that have "significant value" within the meaning of the REMIC
Regulations, effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1995,
except for Residual Securities continuously held by a thrift institution since
November 1, 1995.
In addition, the SBJPA of 1996 provides three rules for determining the
effect of excess inclusions on the alternative minimum taxable income of a
residual holder. First, alternative minimum taxable income for a residual
holder is determined without regard to the special rule, discussed above, that
taxable income cannot be less than excess inclusions. Second, a residual
holder's alternative minimum taxable income for a taxable year cannot be less
than the excess inclusions for the year. Third, the amount of any alternative
minimum tax net operating loss deduction must be computed without regard to
any excess inclusions. These rules are effective for taxable years beginning
after December 31, 1986, unless a residual holder elects to have those rules
apply only to taxable years beginning after August 20, 1996.
(5) Tax-Related Restrictions on Transfer of Residual Securities
Disqualified Organizations. If any legal or beneficial interest in a
Residual Security is transferred to a Disqualified Organization (as defined
below), a tax would be imposed in an amount equal to the product of (1) the
present value of the total anticipated excess inclusions for that Residual
Security for periods after the transfer and (2) the highest marginal federal
income tax rate applicable to corporations. The REMIC Regulations provide that
the anticipated excess inclusions are based on actual prepayment experience to
the date of the transfer and projected payments based on the Prepayment
Assumption. The present value rate equals the applicable federal rate under
Code Section 1274(d) as of the date of the transfer for a term ending with the
last calendar quarter in which excess inclusions are expected to accrue. That
rate is applied to the anticipated excess inclusions from the end of the
remaining calendar quarters in which they arise to the date of the transfer.
That tax generally would be imposed on the transferor of the Residual
Security, except that where the transfer is through an agent (including a
broker, nominee, or other middleman) for a Disqualified Organization, the tax
would instead be imposed on the agent. However, a transferor of a Residual
Security would in no event be liable for the tax for a transfer if the
transferee furnished to the transferor an affidavit stating that the
transferee is not a Disqualified Organization and, as of the time of the
transfer, the transferor does not have actual knowledge that the affidavit is
false. The tax also may be waived by the Internal Revenue Service if the
Disqualified Organization promptly disposes of the Residual Security and the
transferor pays income tax at the highest corporate rate on the excess
inclusion for the period the Residual Security is actually held by the
Disqualified Organization.
In addition, if a "Pass-Through Entity" (as defined below) has excess
inclusion income for a Residual Security during a taxable year and a
Disqualified Organization is the record holder of an equity interest in that
entity, then a tax is imposed on the entity equal to the product of (1) the
amount of excess inclusions that are allocable to the interest in the
Pass-Through Entity during the period that interest is held by the
Disqualified Organization, and (2) the highest marginal federal corporate
income tax rate. That tax would be deductible from the ordinary gross income
of the Pass-Through Entity for the taxable year. The Pass-Through Entity would
not be liable for the tax if it has received an affidavit from the record
holder that it is not a Disqualified Organization or stating the holder's
taxpayer identification number and, during the period that person is the
record holder of the Residual Security, the Pass-Through Entity does not have
actual knowledge that the affidavit is false.
For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1998, if an "electing
large partnership" holds a Residual Security, all interests in the electing
large partnership are treated as held by Disqualified Organizations for
purposes of the tax imposed upon a Pass-Through Entity by Section 860E(c) of
the Code. An exception to this tax, otherwise available to a Pass-Through
Entity that is furnished certain affidavits by record holders of interests in
the entity and that does not know those affidavits are false, is not available
to an electing large partnership.
o "Disqualified Organization" means the United States, any state or
political subdivision thereof, any foreign government, any
international organization, any agency or instrumentality of any of
the foregoing (provided, that the term does not include an
instrumentality if all of its activities are subject to tax and a
majority of its board of directors in not selected by any governmental
entity), any cooperative organization furnishing electric energy or
providing telephone service or persons in rural areas as described in
Code Section 1381(a)(2)(C), and any organization (other than a
farmers' cooperative described in Code Section 531) that is exempt
from taxation under the Code unless the organization is subject to the
tax on unrelated business income imposed by Code Section 511.
o "Pass-Through Entity" means any regulated investment company, real
estate investment trust, common trust fund, partnership, trust or
estate and certain corporations operating on a cooperative basis.
Except as may be provided in Treasury regulations, any person holding
an interest in a Pass-Through Entity as a nominee for another will,
with respect to that interest, be treated as a Pass-Through Entity.
The trust agreement for a series will provide that no legal or beneficial
interest in a Residual Security may be transferred or registered unless (1)
the proposed transferee furnished to the transferor and the trustee an
affidavit providing its taxpayer identification number and stating that the
transferee is the beneficial owner of the Residual Security and is not a
Disqualified Organization and is not purchasing the Residual Security on
behalf of a Disqualified Organization (i.e., as a broker, nominee or middleman
thereof) and (2) the transferor provides a statement in writing to the trustee
that it has no actual knowledge that the affidavit is false. Moreover, the
trust agreement will provide that any attempted or purported transfer in
violation of these transfer restrictions will be null and void and will vest
no rights in any purported transferee. Each Residual Security for a series
will bear a legend referring to those restrictions on transfer, and each
residual holder will be deemed to have agreed, as a condition of ownership
thereof, to any amendments to the related trust agreement required under the
Code or applicable Treasury regulations to effectuate the foregoing
restrictions. Information necessary to compute an applicable excise tax must
be furnished to the Internal Revenue Service and to the requesting party
within 60 days of the request, and the Seller or the trustee may charge a fee
for computing and providing that information.
Noneconomic Residual Interests. The REMIC Regulations would disregard
certain transfers of Residual Securities, in which case the transferor would
continue to be treated as the owner of the Residual Securities and thus would
continue to be subject to tax on its allocable portion of the net income of
the REMIC Pool. Under the REMIC Regulations, a transfer of a "noneconomic
residual interest" (as defined below) to a residual holder (other than a
residual holder who is not a U.S. Person as defined below under "--Foreign
Investors") is disregarded to all federal income tax purposes if a significant
purpose of the transfer is to impede the assessment or collection of tax. A
residual interest in a REMIC (including a residual interest with a positive
value at issuance) is a "noneconomic residual interest" unless, at the time of
the transfer, (1) the present value of the expected future distributions on
the residual interest at least equals the product of the present value of the
anticipated excess inclusions and the highest corporate income tax rate in
effect for the year in which the transfer occurs, and (2) the transferor
reasonably expects that the transferee will receive distributions from the
REMIC at or after the time at which taxes accrue on the anticipated excess
inclusions in an amount sufficient to satisfy the accrued taxes on each excess
inclusion. The anticipated excess inclusions and the present value rate are
determined in the same manner as set forth above under "--Disqualified
Organizations." The REMIC Regulations explain that a significant purpose to
impede the assessment or collection of tax exists if the transferor, at the
time of the transfer, either knew or should have known that the transferee
would be unwilling or unable to pay taxes due on its share of the taxable
income of the REMIC.
A safe harbor is provided if (1) the transferor conducted, at the time of
the transfer, a reasonable investigation of the financial condition of the
transferee and found that the transferee historically had paid its debts as
they came due and found no significant evidence to indicate that the
transferee would not continue to pay its debts as they came due in the future,
and (2) the transferee represents to the transferor that it understands that,
as the holder of the non-economic residual interest, the transferee may incur
liabilities in excess of any cash flows generated by the interest and that the
transferee intends to pay taxes associated with holding the residual interest
as they become due. The trust agreement for each series of Certificates will
require the transferee of a Residual Security to certify to the matters in the
preceding sentence as part of the affidavit described above under the heading
"--Disqualified Organizations."
Proposed Treasury regulations issued on February 4, 2000 (the "New
Proposed Regulations") would modify the safe harbor under which transfers of
noneconomic residual interests are treated as not disregarded for federal
income tax purposes. Under the New Proposed Regulations, a transfer of a
noneconomic residual interest would not qualify under this safe harbor unless
the present value of the anticipated tax liabilities associated with holding
the residual interest does not exceed the sum of the present value of the sum
of (i) any consideration given to the transferee to acquire the interest, (ii)
future distributions on the interest, and (iii) any anticipated tax savings
associated with holding the interest as the REMIC generates losses. For
purposes of this calculation, the present value generally is calculated using
a discount rate equal to the applicable federal rate. The New Proposed
Regulations have a proposed effective date of February 4, 2000.
In addition, President Clinton's Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Proposal
contains a provision under which a REMIC would be secondarily liable for the
tax liability of its residual interest. The proposal states that it would be
effective for REMICs created after the date of enactment. It is unknown
whether this provision will be included in any bill introduced to Congress
this year or if introduced whether it will be enacted. Prospective investors
in REMIC residual interests should consult their tax advisors regarding the
New Proposed Regulations and the Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Proposals.
Foreign Investors. The REMIC Regulations provide that the transfer of a
Residual Security that has "tax avoidance potential" to a "foreign person"
will be disregarded for all federal tax purposes. This rule appears intended
to apply to a transferee who is not a "U.S. Person" (as defined below), unless
the transferee's income is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade
or business within the United States. A Residual Security is deemed to have
tax avoidance potential unless, at the time of the transfer, (1) the future
value of expected distributions equals at least 30% of the anticipated excess
inclusions after the transfer, and (2) the transferor reasonably expects that
the transferee will receive sufficient distributions from the REMIC Pool at or
after the time at which the excess inclusions accrue and before the end of the
next succeeding taxable year for the accumulated withholding tax liability to
be paid. If the non-U.S. Person transfers the Residual Security back to a U.S.
Person, the transfer will be disregarded and the foreign transferor will
continue to be treated as the owner unless arrangements are made so that the
transfer does not have the effect of allowing the transferor to avoid tax on
accrued excess inclusions.
The prospectus supplement relating to the Certificates of a series may
provide that a Residual Security may not be purchased by or transferred to any
person that is not a U.S. Person or may describe the circumstances and
restrictions pursuant to which the transfer may be made. The term "U.S.
Person" means a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation,
partnership (except as provided in applicable Treasury regulations) or other
entity treated as a partnership or as a corporation created or organized in or
under the laws of the United States or of any state (including, for this
purpose, the District of Columbia), an estate that is subject to U.S. federal
income tax regardless of the source of its income, or a trust if a court
within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the
administration of the trust and one or more U.S. Persons have the authority to
control all substantial decisions of the trust (or, to the extent provided in
applicable Treasury regulations, certain trusts in existence on August 20,
1996, which are eligible to elect to be treated as U.S. Persons).
(6) Sale or Exchange of a Residual Security
Upon the sale or exchange of a Residual Security, the residual holder
will recognize gain or loss equal to the excess, if any, of the amount
realized over the adjusted basis (as described above under "--Taxation of
Owners of Residual Securities--Basis and Losses") of the residual holder in
the Residual Security at the time of the sale or exchange. In addition to
reporting the taxable income of the REMIC Pool, a residual holder will have
taxable income to the extent that any cash distribution to it from the REMIC
Pool exceeds that adjusted basis on that Distribution Date. That income will
be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of the residual holder's Residual
Security, in which case, if the residual holder has an adjusted basis in its
Residual Security remaining when its interest in the REMIC Pool terminates,
and if it holds the Residual Security as a capital asset under Code Section
1221, then it will recognize a capital loss at that time in the amount of the
remaining adjusted basis.
Any gain on the sale of a Residual Security will be treated as ordinary
income (1) if a Residual Security is held as part of a "conversion
transaction" as defined in Code Section 1258(c), up to the amount of interest
that would have accrued on the residual holder's net investment in the
conversion transaction at 120% of the appropriate applicable federal rate in
effect at the time the taxpayer entered into the transaction minus any amount
previously treated as ordinary income for any prior disposition of property
that was held as a part of that transaction or (2) in the case of a
non-corporate taxpayer, to the extent that the taxpayer has made an election
under Code Section 163(d)(4) to have net capital gains taxed as investment
income at ordinary income rates. In addition, gain or loss recognized from the
sale of a Residual Security by certain banks or thrift institutions will be
treated as ordinary income or loss pursuant to Code Section 582(c).
Except as provided in Treasury regulations yet to be issued, the wash
sale rules of Code Section 1091 will apply to dispositions of Residual
Securities where the seller of the Residual Security, during the period
beginning six months before the sale or disposition of the Residual Security
and ending six months after the sale or disposition, acquires (or enters into
any other transaction that results in the application of Code Section 1091)
any residual interest in any REMIC or any interest in a "taxable mortgage
pool" (such as a non-REMIC owner trust) that is economically comparable to a
Residual Security.
(7) Mark to Market Regulations
On December 24, 1996, the Internal Revenue Service issued final
regulations (the "Mark to Market Regulations") under Code Section 475 relating
to the requirement that a securities dealer mark to market securities held for
sale to customers. This mark-to-market requirement applies to all securities
of a dealer, except to the extent that the dealer has specifically identified
a security as held for investment. The Mark to Market Regulations provide
that, for purposes of this mark to market requirement, a Residual Security is
not treated as a security and thus may not be marked to market. The Mark to
Market Regulations apply to all Residual Securities acquired on or after
January 4, 1995.
Taxes That May Be Imposed on the REMIC Pool
(1) Prohibited Transactions.
Income from certain transactions by the REMIC Pool, called prohibited
transactions, will not be part of the calculation of income or loss includible
in the federal income tax returns of residual holders, but rather will be
taxed directly to the REMIC Pool at a 100% rate. Prohibited transactions
generally include:
(1) the disposition of a qualified mortgages other than for
(a) substitution within two years of the Startup Day for a defective
(including a defaulted) obligation (or repurchase in lieu of
substitution of a defective (including a defaulted) obligation at
any time) or for any qualified mortgage within three months of the
Startup Day;
(b) foreclosure, default, or imminent default of a qualified
mortgage;
(c) bankruptcy or insolvency of the REMIC Pool; or
(d) a qualified (complete) liquidation;
(2) the receipt of income from assets that are not the type of mortgages
or investments that the REMIC Pool is permitted to hold;
(3) the receipt of compensation for services; or
(4) the receipt of gain from disposition of cash flow investments other
than pursuant to a qualified liquidation.
Notwithstanding (1) and (4) above, it is not a prohibited transaction to
sell a qualified mortgage or cash flow investment held by a REMIC Pool to
prevent a default on regular interests as a result of a default on qualified
mortgages or to facilitate a clean-up call (generally, an optional termination
to save administrative costs when no more than a small percentage of the
Securities is outstanding). The REMIC Regulations indicate that the
modification of a mortgage loan generally will not be treated as a disposition
if it is occasioned by a default or reasonably foreseeable default, an
assumption of the mortgage loan, the waiver of a due-on-sale or
due-on-encumbrance clause, or the conversion of an interest rate by a borrower
pursuant to the terms of a convertible adjustable rate mortgage loan.
(2) Contributions to the REMIC Pool After the Startup Day
In general, the REMIC Pool will be subject to a tax at a 100% rate on the
value of any property contributed to the REMIC Pool after the Startup Day.
Exceptions are provided for cash contributions to the REMIC Pool (1) during
the three months following the Startup Day, (2) made to a qualified reserve
fund by a residual holder, (3) in the nature of a guarantee, (4) made to
facilitate a qualified liquidation or clean-up call, and (5) as otherwise
permitted in Treasury regulations yet to be issued. It is not anticipated that
there will be any contributions to the REMIC Pool after the Startup Day.
(3) Net Income from Foreclosure Property
The REMIC Pool will be subject of federal income tax at the highest
corporate rate on "net income from foreclosure property," determined by
reference to the rules applicable to real estate investment trusts. Generally,
property acquired by deed in lieu of foreclosure would be treated as
"foreclosure property" until the close of the third calendar year after the
year in which the REMIC Pool acquired that property, with possible extensions.
Net income from foreclosure property generally means gain from the sale of a
foreclosure property that is inventory property and gross income from
foreclosure property other than qualifying rents and other qualifying income
for a real estate investment trust. It is not anticipated that the REMIC Pool
will have any taxable net income from foreclosure property.
Liquidation of the REMIC Pool
If a REMIC Pool adopts a plan of complete liquidation, within the meaning
of Code Section 860F(a)(4)(A)(i), which may be accomplished by designating in
the REMIC Pool's final tax return a date on which that adoption is deemed to
occur, and sells all of its assets (other than cash) within a 90-day period
beginning on that date, the REMIC Pool will not be subject to the prohibited
transaction rules on the sale of its assets, provided that the REMIC Pool
credits or distributes in liquidation all of the sale proceeds plus its cash
(other than amounts retained to meet claims) to holders of regular interests
and residual holders within the 90-day period.
Administrative Matters
The REMIC Pool will be required to maintain its books on a calendar year
basis and to file federal income tax returns for federal income tax purposes
in a manner similar to a partnership. The form for the income tax return is
Form 1066, U.S. Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit Income Tax Return. The
trustee will be required to sign the REMIC Pool's returns. Treasury
regulations provide that, except where there is a single residual holder for
an entire taxable year, the REMIC Pool will be subject to the procedural and
administrative rules of the Code applicable to partnerships, including the
determination by the Internal Revenue Service of any adjustments to, among
other things, items of REMIC income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit in a
unified administrative proceeding. The master servicer will be obligated to
act as "tax matters person," as defined in applicable Treasury regulations,
for the REMIC Pool as agent of the residual holders holding the largest
percentage interest in the Residual Securities. If the Code or applicable
Treasury regulations do not permit the master servicer to act as tax matters
person in its capacity as agent of the residual holder, the residual holder or
any other person specified pursuant to Treasury regulations will be required
to act as tax matters person. The tax matters person generally has
responsibility for overseeing and providing notice to the other residual
holders of certain administrative and judicial proceedings regarding the REMIC
Pool's tax affairs, although other holders of the Residual Securities of the
same series would be able to participate in those proceedings in appropriate
circumstances.
Limitations on Deduction of Certain Expenses
An investor who is an individual, estate, or trust will be subject to
limitation with respect to certain itemized deductions described in Code
Section 67, to the extent that those itemized deductions, in total, do not
exceed 2% of the investor's adjusted gross income. In addition, Code Section
68 provides that itemized deductions otherwise allowable for a taxable year of
an individual taxpayer will be reduced by the lesser or (1) 3% of the excess,
if any, of adjusted gross income over $100,000 ($50,000 in the case of a
married individual filing a separate return) (subject to adjustment for
inflation), or (2) 80% of the amount of itemized deductions otherwise
allowable for that year. In the case of a REMIC Pool, those deductions may
include deductions under Code Section 212 for the Servicing Fee and all
administrative and other expenses relating to the REMIC Pool, or any similar
expenses allocated to the REMIC Pool for a regular interest it holds in
another REMIC. Those investors who hold REMIC Securities either directly or
indirectly through certain pass-through entities may have their pro rata share
of those expenses allocated to them as additional gross income, but may be
subject to that limitation on deductions. In addition, those expenses are not
deductible at all for purposes of computing the alternative minimum tax, and
may cause those investors to be subject to significant additional tax
liability. Temporary Treasury regulations provide that the additional gross
income and corresponding amount of expenses generally are to be allocated
entirely to the holders of Residual Securities in the case of a REMIC Pool
that would not qualify as a fixed investment trust in the absence of a REMIC
election. For a REMIC Pool that would be classified as an investment trust in
the absence of a REMIC election or that is substantially similar to an
investment trust, any holder of a Regular Security that is an individual,
trust, estate, or pass-through entity also will be allocated its pro rata
share of those expenses and a corresponding amount of income and will be
subject to the limitations or deductions imposed by Code Sections 67 and 68,
as described above. The prospectus supplement will indicate if all those
expenses will not be allocable to the Residual Securities.
In general, the allocable portion will be determined based on the ratio
that a REMIC securityholder's income, determined on a daily basis, bears to
the income of all holders of regular interests and Residual Securities for a
REMIC Pool. As a result, individuals, estates or trusts holding REMIC
Securities (either directly or indirectly through a grantor trust,
partnership, S corporation, REMIC, or certain other pass-through entities
described in the foregoing temporary Treasury regulations) may have taxable
income in excess of the interest income at the Interest Rate on regular
interests that are issued in a single class or otherwise consistently with
fixed investment trust status or in excess of cash distributions for the
related period on Residual Securities.
Taxation of Certain Foreign Investors
(1) Regular Interests
Interest, including original issue discount, distributable to regular
interest holders who are non-resident aliens, foreign corporations, or other
Non-U.S. Persons (as defined below), generally will be considered "portfolio
interest" and, therefore, generally will not be subject to 30% United States
withholding tax, provided that (1) the interest is not effectively connected
with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States of the
securityholder, (2) the Non-U.S. Person is not a "10-percent shareholder"
within the meaning of Code Section 871(h)(3)(B) or a controlled foreign
corporation described in Code Section 881(c)(3)(C) and (3) that Non-U.S.
Person provides the trustee, or the person who would otherwise be required to
withhold tax from those distributions under Code Section 1441 or 1442, with an
appropriate statement, signed under penalties of perjury, identifying the
beneficial owner and stating, among other things, that the beneficial owner of
the Regular Security is a Non-U.S. Person. If that statement, or any other
required statement, is not provided, 30% withholding will apply unless reduced
or eliminated pursuant to an applicable tax treaty or unless the interest on
the Regular Security is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or
business within the United States by that Non-U.S. Person. In the latter case,
the Non-U.S. Person will be subject to United States federal income tax at
regular rates. Investors who are Non-U.S. Persons should consult their own tax
advisors regarding the specific tax consequences to them of owning a Regular
Security. The term "Non-U.S. Person" means any person who is not a U.S.
Person.
The Internal Revenue Service recently issued final regulations (the "New
Regulations") that would provide alternative methods of satisfying the
beneficial ownership certification requirement described above. The New
Regulations are effective for payments made after December 31, 2000. The New
Regulations would require, in the case of Regular Certificates held by a
foreign partnership, that (x) the certification described above be provided by
the partners rather than by the foreign partnership and (y) the partnership
provide certain information, including a United States taxpayer identification
number. A look-through rule would apply in the case of tiered partnerships.
Non-U.S. Persons should consult their own tax advisors concerning the
application of the certification requirements in the New Regulations.
(2) Residual Securities
The Conference Committee Report to the 1986 Act indicates that amounts
paid to residual holders who are Non-U.S. Persons generally should be treated
as interest for purposes of the 30% (or lower treaty rate) United States
withholding tax. Treasury regulations provide that amount distributed to
residual holders may qualify as "portfolio interest," subject to the
conditions described in "regular interests" above, but only to the extent that
(1) the mortgage loans were issued after July 18, 1984, and (2) the trust fund
or segregated pool of assets therein (as to which a separate REMIC election
will be made), to which the Residual Security relates, consists of obligations
issued in "registered form" within the meaning of Code Section 163 (f) (1).
Generally, mortgage loans will not be, but regular interests in another REMIC
Pool will be, considered obligations issued in registered form. Furthermore,
residual holders will not be entitled to any exemption from the 30%
withholding tax (or lower treaty rate) to the extent of that portion of REMIC
taxable income that constitutes an "excess inclusion." See "--Taxation of
Owners of Residual Securities--Limitations on Offset or Exemption of REMIC
Income" above. If the amounts paid to residual holders who are Non-U.S.
Persons are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business
within the United States by those Non-U.S. Persons, 30% (or lower treaty rate)
withholding will not apply. Instead, the amounts paid to those Non-U.S.
Persons will be subject to United States federal income tax at regular rates.
If 30% (or lower treaty rate) withholding is applicable, those amounts
generally will be taken into account for purposes of withholding only when
paid or otherwise distributed (or when the Residual Security is disposed of)
under rules similar to withholding upon disposition of debt instruments that
have original issue discount. See "--Tax-Related Restrictions on Transfer of
Residual Securities--Foreign Investors" above concerning the disregard of
certain transfers having "tax avoidance potential." Investors who are Non-U.S.
Persons should consult their own tax advisors regarding the specific tax
consequences to them of owning Residual Securities.
(3) Backup Withholding
Distributions made on the regular interests, and proceeds from the sale
of the regular interests to or through certain brokers, may be subject to a
"backup" withholding tax under Code Section 3406 of 31% on "reportable
payments" (including interest distributions, original issue discount, and,
under some circumstances, principal distributions) unless the Regular Holder
complies with certain reporting and/or certification procedures, including the
provision of its taxpayer identification number to the trustee, its agent or
the broker who effected the sale of the Regular Security, or that Holder is
otherwise an exempt recipient under applicable provisions of the Code. Any
amounts to be withheld from distribution on the regular interests would be
refunded by the Internal Revenue Service or allowed as a credit against the
Regular Holder's federal income tax liability.
(4) Reporting Requirements
Reports of accrued interest, original issue discount and information
necessary to compute the accrual of market discount will be made annually to
the Internal Revenue Service and to individuals, estates, non-exempt and
non-charitable trusts, and partnerships who are either holders of record of
regular interests or beneficial owners who own regular interests through a
broker or middleman as nominee. All brokers, nominees and all other non-exempt
holders of record of regular interests (including corporations, non-calendar
year taxpayers, securities or commodities dealers, real estate investment
trusts, investment companies, common trust funds, thrift institutions and
charitable trusts) may request that information for any calendar quarter by
telephone or in writing by contacting the person designated in Internal
Revenue Service Publication 938 for a particular series of regular interests.
Holders through nominees must request the information from the nominee.
The Internal Revenue Service's Form 1066 has an accompanying Schedule Q,
Quarterly Notice to Residual Interest Holders of REMIC Taxable Income or Net
Loss Allocation. Treasury regulations require that Schedule Q be furnished by
the REMIC Pool to each residual holder by the end of the month following the
close of each calendar quarter (41 days after the end of a quarter under
proposed Treasury regulations) in which the REMIC Pool is in existence.
Treasury regulations require that, in addition to the foregoing requirements,
information must be furnished quarterly to residual holders, furnished
annually, if applicable, to holders of regular interests, and filed annually
with the Internal Revenue Service concerning Code Section 67 expenses (see
"Limitations on Deduction of Certain Expenses" above) allocable to those
holders. Furthermore, under these regulations, information must be furnished
quarterly to residual holders, furnished annually to holders of regular
interests, and filed annually with the Internal Revenue Service concerning the
percentage of the REMIC Pool's assets meeting the qualified asset tests
described above under "--Characterization of Investments in REMIC Securities."
Residual holders should be aware that their responsibilities as holders
of the residual interest in a REMIC Pool, including the duty to account for
their shares of the REMIC Pool's income or loss on their returns, continue for
the life of the REMIC Pool, even after the principal and interest on their
Residual Securities have been paid in full.
Treasury regulations provide that a residual holder is not required to
treat items on its return consistently with their treatment on the REMIC
Pool's return if the holder owns 100% of the Residual Securities for the
entire calendar year. Otherwise, each residual holder is required to treat
items on its returns consistently with their treatment on the REMIC Pool's
return, unless the holder either files a statement identifying the
inconsistency or establishes that the inconsistency resulted from incorrect
information received from the REMIC Pool. The Internal Revenue Service may
assess a deficiency resulting from a failure to comply with the consistency
requirement without instituting an administrative proceeding at the REMIC Pool
level. A REMIC Pool typically will not register as a tax shelter pursuant to
Code Section 6111 because it generally will not have a net loss for any of the
first five taxable years of its existence. Any person that holds a Residual
Security as a nominee for another person may be required to furnish the
related REMIC Pool, in a manner to be provided in Treasury regulations, with
the name and address of that person and other specified information.
FASITs
Classification of FASITs
For each series of FASIT Securities, assuming compliance with all
provisions of the related trust agreement, in the opinion of Brown & Wood LLP,
the related trust fund will qualify as a FASIT. A FASIT is any entity that (1)
elects FASIT status, (2) satisfies certain requirements concerning the
interests it issues (the "interests test"), and (3) satisfies certain
requirements concerning the composition of its assets (the "asset test"). Any
entity described in Section 851(a) of the Code (i.e., a regulated investment
company), however, would not be eligible to elect FASIT status.
The Interests Test. All interests in a FASIT must be designated as either
regular interests or as the ownership interest. A FASIT can have only one
ownership interest and it must be held directly at all times by an "eligible
corporation" (i.e., a domestic "C " corporation that is subject to tax and
that is not a regulated investment company, a real estate investment trust, a
REMIC, or a subchapter T cooperative). The ownership interest need not have
any particular economic characteristics.
Generally, A FASIT regular interest is any interest issued by the FASIT
on or after its startup day that is designated as such and that (1)
unconditionally entitles the holder to receive a specified principal amount,
(2) provides that interest payments, if any, be determined based on a fixed
rate, or, except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulations, which have not
been promulgated, at a rate that would qualify as a variable rate under the
REMIC regulations, (3) does not have a stated maturity date more than 30 years
from the date of issuance, (4) does not have an issue price in excess of 125%
of its stated principal amount, and (5) has a yield to maturity that is not
greater than the appropriate applicable federal rate published by the IRS for
the month of issue plus 5%. Certain FASIT interests, referred to as
"high-yield interests," will qualify as regular interests even though they do
not satisfy the first, fourth, or fifth requirements set out above. Generally,
high-yield interests must be held by eligible corporations.
The Asset Test. If the Trust Fund is to qualify as a FASIT, then as of
the close of the third month following the date of its formation, and at all
times thereafter, substantially all of its assets must be "permitted assets."
The term "permitted assets" is defined to include (1) cash and cash
equivalents, (2) generally, any instrument that is classified as indebtedness
for federal income tax purpose under which interest payments, if any, are
payable at a fixed rate or a rate that would be a qualifying rate under the
REMIC regulations for a REMIC regular interest, (3) foreclosure property, (4)
certain hedging instruments (e.g., swap contracts, futures contracts, and
guarantee arrangements) intended to hedge against the risks associated with
being the obligor on FASIT regular interests, (5) contract rights to acquire
debt instruments described in (2) above or hedges described in (4) above, and
(5) any regular interest in a REMIC or in another FASIT. The term "permitted
asset" does not, however, include any debt instrument, other than a cash
equivalent, issued by the holder of the ownership interest or any person
related to the holder.
If the trust fund fails to comply with one or more of the requirements
for FASIT status during any taxable year, the trust fund may lose its FASIT
status for that year and all years thereafter. If the trust fund were to lose
its FASIT status, the trust fund could be taxable as a corporation.
Taxation of Owners of FASIT Regular Securities
(1) General
Payments received by holders of FASIT Regular Securities generally will
be accorded the same tax treatment under the Code as payments received on
REMIC regular interests. Holders of FASIT Regular Securities must report
income from these Securities under an accrual method of accounting, even if
they otherwise would have used the cash receipts and disbursements method.
Except in the case of FASIT Regular Securities issued with original issue
discount, interest paid or accrued on a FASIT Regular Security generally will
be treated as ordinary income to the Holder and a principal payment on the
Security will be treated as a return of capital to the extent that the
securityholder's basis is allocable to that payment.
(2) Original Issue Discount; Market Discount; Acquisition Premium
FASIT Regular Securities issued with original issue discount or acquired
with market discount or acquisition premium generally will treat interest and
principal payments on the Securities in the same manner described for REMIC
regular interests. See "--REMICs - Taxation of Owners of REMIC Regular
Interests" above.
(3) Sale or Exchange
If the FASIT Regular Securities are sold, the holder generally will
recognize gain or loss upon the sale in the manner described above for REMIC
regular interests. See "--REMICs--Taxation of Owners of REMIC Regular
Interests--Sale or Exchange of Regular Securities."
Taxation of Owners of High-Yield Interests
(1) General
The treatment of high-yield interests is intended to ensure that the
return on instruments issued by a FASIT yielding an equity-like return
continues to have a corporate level tax. High-yield interests are subject to
special rules regarding the eligibility of holders of the interest, and the
ability of the holders to offset income derived from their FASIT Security with
losses.
High-yield interests may only be held by Eligible Corporations, other
FASITs, and dealers in Securities who acquire these interests as inventory. If
a securities dealer (other than an Eligible Corporation) initially acquires a
high-yield interest as inventory, but later begins to hold it for investment,
the dealer will be subject to an excise tax equal to the income from the
high-yield interest multiplied by the highest corporate income tax rate. In
addition, transfers of high-yield interests to disqualified holders will be
disregarded for federal income tax purposes, and the transferor will continue
to be treated as the holder of the high-yield interest.
(2) Treatment of Losses
The holder of a high-yield interest may not use non-FASIT current losses
or net operating loss carryforwards or carrybacks to offset any income derived
from the high-yield interest, for either regular federal income tax purposes
or for alternative minimum tax purposes. In addition, the FASIT Provisions
contain an anti-abuse rule that imposes corporate income tax on income derived
from a FASIT regular interest that is held by a pass-through entity (other
than another FASIT) that issues debt or equity securities backed by the FASIT
regular interest and that have the same features as high-yield interests.
Taxation of FASIT Ownership Security
(1) General
A FASIT Ownership Security represents the residual equity interest in a
FASIT. The holder of a FASIT Ownership Security determines its taxable income
by taking into account all assets, liabilities, and items of income, gain,
deduction, loss, and credit of a FASIT. In general, the character of the
income to the holder of a FASIT Ownership Security will be the same as the
character of the income to the FASIT, except that any tax-exempt interest
income taken into account by the holder of a FASIT Ownership Security is
treated as ordinary income. In determining that taxable income, the holder of
a FASIT Ownership Security must determine the amount of interest, original
issue discount, market discount, and premium recognized with respect to the
FASIT's assets and the FASIT Regular Securities issued by the FASIT according
to a constant yield methodology and under an accrual method of accounting. In
addition, a holder of a FASIT Ownership Security is subject to the same
limitations on their ability to use losses to offset income from their FASIT
Regular Securities as are holders of high-yield interest. See "--Taxation of
Owners of High-Yield Interests" above.
Rules similar to the wash sale rules applicable to REMIC Residual
Securities also will apply to FASIT Ownership Security. Accordingly, losses on
dispositions of a FASIT Ownership Security generally will be disallowed where
within six months before or after the disposition, the seller of the Security
acquires any other FASIT Ownership Security that is economically comparable to
a FASIT Ownership Security.
(2) Prohibited Transaction
The holder of a FASIT Ownership Security is required to pay a penalty
excise tax equal to 100 percent of net income derived from:
(1) an asset that is not a permitted asset;
(2) any disposition of an asset other than a permitted disposition;
(3) any income attributable to loans originated by the FASIT; and
(4) compensation for services (other than fees for a waiver, amendment,
or consent under permitted assets not acquired through foreclosure).
A permitted disposition is any disposition of any permitted asset:
(1) arising from complete liquidation of a class of regular interest
(i.e., a qualified liquidation);
(2) incident to the foreclosure, default (or imminent default) on an
asset of the asset;
(3) incident to the bankruptcy or insolvency of the FASIT;
(4) necessary to avoid a default on any indebtedness of the a FASIT
attributable to a default (or imminent default) on an asset of the FASIT;
(5) to facilitate a clean-up call;
(6) to substitute a permitted debt instrument for another such
instrument; or
(7) in order to reduce over-collateralization where a principal purposes
of the disposition was not to avoid recognition of gain arising from an
increase in its market value after its acquisition by the FASIT.
A series of Securities for which a FASIT election is made generally will
be structured in order to avoid application of the prohibited transactions
tax.
(3) Backup Withholding, Reporting and Tax Administration
Holders of FASIT Securities will be subject to backup withholding to the
same extent as holders of REMIC Securities. In addition, for purposes of
reporting and tax administration, holders of record of FASIT Securities
generally will be treated in the same manner as holders of REMIC Securities.
See "--REMICs" above.
Proposed FASIT Regulations
The Treasury Department filed proposed regulations interpreting the FASIT
Provisions ("proposed FASIT regulations") with the Federal Register on Friday,
February 4, 2000. The proposed FASIT regulations generally would be effective
on the date they are issued as final regulations. Certain anti-abuse rules
are, however, proposed to be effective on February 4, 2000. The proposed FASIT
regulations would, among other things, provide procedures for making a FASIT
election, refine the definition of certain terms used in the FASIT provisions,
provide penalties that would apply upon cessation of FASIT status, provide
rules for the tax treatment of transfers of assets to the FASIT, and establish
anti-abuse rules to preclude use of the FASIT vehicle for a transaction that
did not primarily concern the securitization of financial assets.
Grantor Trust Funds
Classification of Grantor Trust Funds
For each series of Grantor Trust Securities, assuming compliance with all
provisions of the related Agreement, in the opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, the
related Grantor Trust Fund will be classified as trust under Treasury
Regulation Section 301.7701-4(c) and not as a partnership, an association
taxable as a corporation, or a "taxable mortgage pool" within the meaning of
Code Section 7701(i). Accordingly, each holder of a Grantor Trust Security
generally will be treated as the beneficial owner of an undivided interest in
the mortgage loans included in the Grantor Trust Fund.
Standard Securities
(1) General
Where there is no Retained Interest or "excess" servicing for the
mortgage loans underlying the Securities of a series, and where these
Securities are not designated as "Stripped Securities," the holder of each
Security of that series (referred to herein as "Standard Securities") will be
treated as the owner of a pro rata undivided interest in the ordinary income
and corpus portions of the Grantor Trust Fund represented by its Standard
Security and will be considered the beneficial owner of a pro rata undivided
interest in each of the mortgage loans, subject to the discussion below under
"--Recharacterization of Servicing Fees." Accordingly, the holder of a
Standard Security of a particular series will be required to report on its
federal income tax return its pro rata share of the entire income from the
mortgage loans represented by its Standard Security, including interest at the
coupon rate on those mortgage loans, original issue discount (if any),
prepayment fees, assumption fees, and late payment charges received by the
servicer, in accordance with that securityholder's method of accounting. A
securityholder generally will be able to deduct its share of the servicing
fees and all administrative and other expenses of the trust fund in accordance
with its method of accounting, provided that those amounts are reasonable
compensation for services rendered to the Grantor Trust Fund.
However, investors who are individuals, estates or trusts who own
Securities, either directly or indirectly through certain pass-through
entities, will be subject to limitations for certain itemized deductions
described in Code Section 67, including deductions under Code Section 212 for
the servicing fees and all administrative and other expenses of the Grantor
Trust Fund, to the extent that those deductions, in total, do not exceed two
percent of an investor's adjusted gross income. In addition, Code Section 68
provides that itemized deductions otherwise allowable for a taxable year of an
individual taxpayer will be reduced by the lesser of (1) 3% of the excess, if
any, of adjusted gross income over $100,000 ($50,000 in the case of a married
individual filing a separate return) (in each case, as adjusted for post-1991
inflation), or (2) 80% of the amount of itemized deductions otherwise
allowable for that year. As a result, those investors holding Standard
Securities, directly or indirectly through a pass-through entity, may have
total taxable income in excess of the total amount of cash received on the
Standard Securities with respect to interest at the Interest Rate or as
discount income on the Standard Securities. In addition, those expenses are
not deductible at all for purposes of computing the alternative minimum tax,
and may cause those investors to be subject to significant additional tax
liability.
Holders of Standard Securities, particularly any class of a series that
are Subordinate Securities, may incur losses of interest or principal with
respect to the mortgage loans. Those losses would be deductible generally only
as described above under "--REMICs--Taxation of Owners of REMIC Regular
Interests--Treatment of Losses," except that securityholders on the cash
method of accounting would not be required to report qualified stated interest
as income until actual receipt.
(2) Tax Status
For a series, in the opinion of Brown & Wood LLP a Standard Security
owned by a:
o "domestic building and loan association" within the meaning of Code
Section 7701(a)(19) will be considered to represent "loans . . .
secured by an interest in real property which is . . . residential
real property" within the meaning of Code Section 7701(a)(19)(C)(v),
provided that the real property securing the mortgage loans
represented by that Standard Security is of the type described in that
section of the Code.
o real estate investment trust will be considered to represent "real
estate assets" within the meaning of Code Section 856(c)(4)(A) to the
extent that the assets of the related Grantor Trust Fund consist of
qualified assets, and interest income on those assets will be
considered "interest on obligations secured by mortgages on real
property" to that extent within the meaning of Code Section
856(c)(3)(B).
o REMIC will be considered to represent an "obligation (including any
participation or certificate of beneficial ownership therein) which is
principally secured by an interest in real property" within the
meaning of Code Section 860G(a)(3)(A) to the extent that the assets of
the related Grantor Trust Fund consist of "qualified mortgages" within
the meaning of Code Section 860G(a)(3).
The depositor recommends that securityholders consult with their tax
advisors as to the federal income tax treatment of premium and discount
arising either upon initial acquisition of Standard Securities or thereafter.
Premium. The treatment of premium incurred upon the purchase of a
Standard Security will be determined generally as described above under
"--REMICs--Taxation of Owners of Residual Securities Premium."
Original Issue Discount. The original issue discount rules of Code
Section 1271 through 1275 will be applicable to a securityholder's interest in
those mortgage loans as to which the conditions for the application of those
sections are met. Rules regarding periodic inclusion of original issue
discount income generally are applicable to mortgages originated after March
2, 1984. The rules allowing for the amortization of premium are available for
mortgage loans originated after September 27, 1985. Under the OID Regulations,
original issue discount could arise by the charging of points by the
originator of the mortgages in an amount greater than the statutory de minimis
exception, including a payment of points that is currently deductible by the
borrower under applicable Code provisions or, under some circumstances, by the
presence of "teaser" rates on the mortgage loans. See "--Stripped Securities"
below regarding original issue discount on Stripped Securities.
Original issue discount generally must be reported as ordinary gross
income as it accrues under a constant interest method that takes into account
the compounding of interest, in advance of the cash attributable to that
income. No prepayment assumption will be assumed for purposes of that accrual
except as set forth in the prospectus supplement. However, Code Section 1272
provides for a reduction in the amount of original issue discount includible
in the income of a holder of an obligation that acquires the obligation after
its initial issuance at a price greater than the sum of the original issue
price and the previously accrued original issue discount, less prior payments
of principal. Accordingly, if those mortgage loans acquired by a
securityholder are purchased at a price equal to the then unpaid principal
amount of those mortgage loans, no original issue discount attributable to the
difference between the issue price and the original principal amount of those
mortgage loans (i.e., points) will be includible by that holder.
Market Discount. Securityholders also will be subject to the market
discount rules to the extent that the conditions for application of those
sections are met. Market discount on the mortgage loans will be determined and
will be reported as ordinary income generally in the manner described above
under "--REMICs--Taxation of Owners of REMIC Regular Interests--Market
Discount," except that the ratable accrual methods described therein will not
apply. Rather, the holder will accrue market discount pro rata over the life
of the mortgage loans, unless the constant yield method is elected. No
prepayment assumption will be assumed for purposes of that accrual except as
set forth in the prospectus supplement.
(3) Recharacterization of Servicing Fees
If the servicing fees paid to a servicer were deemed to exceed reasonable
servicing compensation, the amount of that excess would represent neither
income nor a deduction to securityholders. In this regard, there are no
authoritative guidelines for federal income tax purposes as to either the
maximum amount of servicing compensation that may be considered reasonable in
the context of this or similar transactions or whether, in the case of
Standard Securities, the reasonableness of servicing compensation should be
determined on a weighted average or loan-by-loan basis. If a loan-by-loan
basis is appropriate, the likelihood that the amount would exceed reasonable
servicing compensation as to some of the mortgage loans would be increased.
Internal Revenue Service guidance indicates that a servicing fee in excess of
reasonable compensation ("excess servicing") will cause the mortgage loans to
be treated under the "stripped bond" rules. That guidance provides safe
harbors for servicing deemed to be reasonable and requires taxpayers to
demonstrate that the value of servicing fees in excess of those amounts is not
greater than the value of the services provided.
Accordingly, if the Internal Revenue Service's approach is upheld, a
servicer who receives a servicing fee in excess of those amounts would be
viewed as retaining an ownership interest in a portion of the interest
payments on the mortgage loans. Under the rules of Code Section 1286, the
separation of ownership of the right to receive some or all of the interest
payments on an obligation from the right to receive some or all of the
principal payments on the obligation would result in treatment of those
mortgage loans as "stripped coupons" and "stripped bonds." Subject to the de
minimis rule discussed below under "--Stripped Securities," each stripped bond
or stripped coupon could be considered for this purpose as a non-interest
bearing obligation issued on the date of issue of the Standard Securities, and
the original issue discount rules of the Code would apply to the holder
thereof. While securityholders would still be treated as owners of beneficial
interests in a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes, the corpus of
the trust could be viewed as excluding the portion of the mortgage loans the
ownership of which is attributed to the servicer, or as including that portion
as a second class of equitable interest. In general, that recharacterization
should not have any significant effect upon the timing or amount of income
reported by a securityholder, except that the income reported by a cash method
holder may be slightly accelerated. See "--Stripped Securities" below for a
further description of the federal income tax treatment of stripped bonds and
stripped coupons.
(4) Sale or Exchange of Standard Securities
Upon sale or exchange of a Standard Securities, a securityholder will
recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on
the sale and its total adjusted basis in the mortgage loans and other assets
represented by the Security. In general, the total adjusted basis will equal
the securityholder's cost for the Standard Security, exclusive of accrued
interest, increased by the amount of any income previously reported for the
Standard Security and decreased by the amount of any losses previously
reported for the Standard Security and the amount of any distributions (other
than accrued interest) received thereon. Except as provided above with respect
to market discount on any mortgage loans, and except for certain financial
institutions subject to the provisions of Code Section 582(c), the gain or
loss generally would be capital gain or loss if the Standard Security was held
as a capital asset. However, gain on the sale of a Standard Security will be
treated as ordinary income (1) if a Standard Security is held as part of a
"conversion transaction" as defined in Code Section 1258(c), up to the amount
of interest that would have accrued on the securityholder's net investment in
the conversion transaction at 120% of the appropriate applicable federal rate
in effect at the time the taxpayer entered into the transaction minus any
amount previously treated as ordinary income for any prior disposition of
property that was held as part of that transaction or (2) in the case of a
non-corporate taxpayer, to the extent that the taxpayer has made an election
under Code Section 163(d)(4) to have net capital gains taxed as investment
income at ordinary income rates. Long-term capital gains of certain
non-corporate taxpayers generally are subject to a lower maximum tax rate
(20%) than ordinary income or short-term capital gains of those taxpayers
(39.6%) for property held for more than one year. The maximum tax rate for
corporations currently is the same for both ordinary income and capital gains.
Stripped Securities
(1) General
Pursuant to Code Section 1286, the separation of ownership of the right
to receive some or all of the principal payments on an obligation from
ownership of the right to receive some or all of the interest payments results
in the creation of "stripped bonds" for principal payments and "stripped
coupons" for interest payments. For purposes of this discussion, Securities
that are subject to those rules will be referred to as "Stripped Securities."
In the opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, the Securities will be subject to those
rules if:
o the depositor or any of its affiliates retains (for its own account or
for purposes of resale), in the form of retained interest or
otherwise, an ownership interest in a portion of the payments on the
mortgage loans;
o the depositor or any of its affiliates is treated as having an
ownership interest in the mortgage loans to the extent it is paid (or
retains) servicing compensation in an amount greater than reasonable
consideration for servicing the mortgage loans (see "--Standard
Securities--Recharacterization of Servicing Fees" above); and
o Securities are issued in two or more classes representing the right to
non-pro-rata percentages of the interest and principal payments on the
mortgage loans.
In general, a holder of a Stripped Security will be considered to own
"stripped bonds" for its pro rata share of all or a portion of the principal
payments on each mortgage loan and/or "stripped coupons" for its pro rata
share of all or a portion of the interest payments on each mortgage loan,
including the Stripped Security's allocable share of the servicing fees paid
to a servicer, to the extent that those fees represent reasonable compensation
for services rendered. See the discussion above under "--Standard
Securities--Recharacterization of Servicing Fees." Although not free from
doubt, for purposes of reporting to securityholders of Stripped Securities,
the servicing fees will be allocated to the classes of Stripped Securities in
proportion to the distributions to those classes for the related period or
periods. The holder of a Stripped Security generally will be entitled to a
deduction each year in respect of the servicing fees, as described above under
"--Standard Securities--General," subject to the limitation described therein.
Code Section 1286 treats a stripped bond or a stripped coupon generally
as an obligation issued at an original issue discount on the date that the
stripped interest is purchased. Although the treatment of Stripped Securities
for federal income tax purposes is not clear in some respects, particularly
where Stripped Securities are issued with respect to a pool of variable-rate
mortgage loans, in the opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, (1) the Grantor Trust Fund
will be treated as a trust under Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-4(c) and
not as a partnership, an association taxable as a corporation or a "taxable
mortgage pool" within the meaning of Code Section 7701(i), and (2) each
Stripped Security should be treated as a single installment obligation for
purposes of calculating original issue discount and gain or loss on
disposition. This treatment is based on the interrelationship of Code Section
1286, Code Sections 1272 through 1275, and the OID Regulations. Although it is
possible that computations for Stripped Securities could be made in one of the
ways described below under "--Possible Alternative Characterizations," the OID
Regulations state, in general, that two or more debt instruments issued by a
single issuer to a single investor in a single transaction should be treated
as a single debt instrument. Accordingly, for original issue discount
purposes, all payments on any Stripped Securities should be totaled and
treated as though they were made on a single debt instrument. The trust
agreement will require that the trustee make and report all computations
described below using the approach described in this paragraph, unless
substantial legal authority requires otherwise.
Furthermore, Treasury regulations provide for treatment of a Stripped
Security as a single debt instrument issued on the date it is purchased for
purposes of calculating any original issue discount. In addition, under these
regulations, a Stripped Security that represents a right to payments of both
interest and principal may be viewed either as issued with original issue
discount or market discount (as described below), at a de minimis original
issue discount, or, presumably, at a premium. This treatment indicates that
the interest component of that Stripped Security would be treated as qualified
stated interest under the OID Regulations, assuming it is not an interest-only
or super-premium Stripped Security. Further, these regulations provide that
the purchaser of that Stripped Security will be required to account for any
discount as market discount rather than original issue discount if either (1)
the initial discount for the Stripped Security was treated as zero under the
de minimis rule, or (2) no more than 100 basis points in excess of reasonable
servicing is stripped off the related mortgage loans. That market discount
would be reportable as described above under "--REMICs--Taxation of Owners of
REMIC Regular Interests--Market Discount," without regard to the de minimis
rule therein, assuming that a prepayment assumption is employed in that
computation.
The holder of a Stripped Security will be treated as owning an interest
in each of the mortgage loans held by the Grantor Trust Fund and will
recognize an appropriate share of the income and expenses associated with the
mortgage loans. Accordingly, an individual, trust or estate that holds a
Stripped Security directly or through a pass-through entity will be subject to
the limitations on deductions imposed by Code Sections 67 and 68.
A holder of a Stripped Security, particularly any Stripped Security that
is a Subordinate Security, may deduct losses incurred for the Stripped
Security as described above under "--Standard Securities General."
(2) Status of Stripped Securities
No specific legal authority exists as to whether the character of the
Stripped Securities, for federal income tax purposes, will be the same as that
of the mortgage loans. Although the issue is not free from doubt, in the
opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, Stripped Securities owned by applicable holders
should be considered to represent "real estate assets" within the meaning of
Code Section 856(c)(4)(A), "obligation [ s ] . . . principally secured by an
interest in real property which is . . . . residential real estate" within the
meaning of Code Section 860G(a)(3)(A), and "loans . . . secured by an interest
in real property" within the meaning of Code Section 7701(a)(19)(C)(v), and
interest (including original issue discount) income attributable to Stripped
Securities should be considered to represent "interest on obligations secured
by mortgages on real property" within the meaning of Code Section
856(c)(3)(B), provided that in each case the mortgage loans and interest on
those mortgage loans qualify for that treatment. See "--Standard
Securities--Tax Status" above.
(3) Taxation of Stripped Securities
Original Issue Discount. Except as described above, each Stripped
Security will be considered to have been issued at an original issue discount
for federal income tax purposes. Original issue discount for a Stripped
Security must be included in ordinary income as it accrues, in accordance with
a constant yield method that takes into account the compounding of interest,
which may be before the receipt of the cash attributable to that income. Based
in part on the issue discount required to be included in the income of a
holder of a Stripped Security in any taxable year likely will be computed
generally as described above under "--REMICs-- Taxation of Owners of REMIC
Regular Interests--Original Issue Discount" and "--Variable Rate Regular
Securities." However, with the apparent exception of a Stripped Security
qualifying as a market discount obligation as described above, the issue price
of a Stripped Security will be the purchase price paid by each holder thereof,
and the stated redemption price at maturity will include the total amount of
the payments to be made on the Stripped Security to that securityholder,
presumably under the Prepayment Assumption, other than qualified stated
interest.
If the mortgage loans prepay at a rate either faster or slower than that
under the Prepayment Assumption, a securityholder's recognition of original
issue discount will be either accelerated or decelerated and the amount of
that original issue discount will be either increased or decreased depending
on the relative interests in principal and interest on each mortgage loan
represented by that securityholder's Stripped Security. While the matter is
not free from doubt, the holder of a Stripped Security should be entitled in
the year that it becomes certain (assuming no further prepayments) that the
holder will not recover a portion of its adjusted basis in the Stripped
Security to recognize a loss (which may be a capital loss) equal to that
portion of unrecoverable basis.
Sale or Exchange of Stripped Securities. Sale or exchange of a Stripped
Security before its maturity will result in gain or loss equal to the
difference, if any, between the amount received and the securityholder's
adjusted basis in that Stripped Security, as described above under
"--REMICs--Taxation of Owners of REMIC Regular Interests--Sale or Exchange of
Regular Securities." Gain or loss from the sale or exchange of a Stripped
Security generally will be capital gain or loss to the securityholder if the
Stripped Security is held as a "capital asset" within the meaning of Code
Section 1221, and will be long-term or short-term depending on whether the
Stripped Security has been held for the long-term capital gain holding period
(currently, more than one year). To the extent that a subsequent purchaser's
purchase price is exceeded by the remaining payments on the Stripped
Securities, the subsequent purchaser will be required for federal income tax
purposes to accrue and report that excess as if it were original issue
discount in the manner described above. It is not clear for this purpose
whether the assumed prepayment rate that is to be used in the case of a
securityholder other than an original securityholder should be the Prepayment
Assumption or a new rate based on the circumstances at the date of subsequent
purchase.
Purchase of More Than One Class of Stripped Securities. When an investor
purchases more than one class of Stripped Securities, it is currently unclear
whether for federal income tax purposes those classes of Stripped Securities
should be treated separately or aggregated for purposes of the rules described
above.
Possible Alternative Characterization. The characterizations of the
Stripped Securities discussed above are not the only possible interpretations
of the applicable Code provisions. For example, the securityholder may be
treated as the owner of
(1) one installment obligation consisting of the Stripped Security's pro
rata share of the payments attributable to principal on each mortgage
loan and a second installment obligation consisting of the Stripped
Security's pro rata share of the payments attributable to interest on
each mortgage loan;
(2) as many stripped bonds or stripped coupons as there are scheduled
payments of principal and/or interest on each mortgage loan; or
(3) a separate installment obligation for each mortgage loan,
representing the Stripped Security's pro rata share of payments of
principal and/or interest to be made with respect thereto.
Alternatively, the holder of one or more classes of Stripped Securities
may be treated as the owner of a pro rata fractional undivided interest in
each mortgage loan to the extent that a Stripped Security, or classes of
Stripped Securities, represents the same pro rata portion of principal and
interest on each mortgage loan, and a stripped bond or stripped coupon (as the
case may be), treated as an installment obligation or contingent payment
obligation, as to the remainder. Treasury regulations regarding original issue
discount on stripped obligations make the foregoing interpretations less
likely to be applicable. The preamble to these regulations states that they
are premised on the assumption that an aggregation approach is appropriate for
determining whether original issue discount on a stripped bond or stripped
coupon is de minimis, and solicits comments on appropriate rules for
aggregating stripped bonds and stripped coupons under Code Section 1286.
Because of these possible varying characterizations of Stripped
Securities and the resultant differing treatment of income recognition,
securityholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the
proper treatment of Stripped Securities for federal income tax purposes.
Reporting Requirements and Backup Withholding
The trustee will furnish, within a reasonable time after the end of each
calendar year, to each securityholder at any time during that year,
information (prepared on the basis described above) necessary to enable the
securityholder to prepare its federal income tax returns. This information
will include the amount of original issue discount accrued on Securities held
by persons other than securityholders exempted from the reporting
requirements. However, the amount required to be reported by the trustee may
not be equal to the proper amount of original issue discount required to be
reported as taxable income by a securityholder, other than an original
securityholder who purchased at the issue price. In particular, in the case of
Stripped Securities, the reporting will be based upon a representative initial
offering price of each class of Stripped Securities except as set forth in the
prospectus supplement. The trustee will also file the original issue discount
information with the Internal Revenue Service. If a securityholder fails to
supply an accurate taxpayer identification number or if the Secretary of the
Treasury determines that a Security older has not reported all interest and
dividend income required to be shown on his federal income tax return, 31%
backup withholding may be required in respect of any reportable payments, as
described above under "--REMICs--Backup Withholding."
Taxation of Certain Foreign Investors
To the extent that a Security evidences ownership in mortgage loans that
are issued on or before July 18, 1984, interest or original issue discount
paid by the person required to withhold tax under Code Section 1441 or 1442 to
nonresident aliens, foreign corporations, or other Non-U.S. persons generally
will be subject to 30% United States withholding tax, or any applicable lower
rate as may be provided for interest by an applicable tax treaty. Accrued
original issue discount recognized by the securityholder on the sale or
exchange of that Security also will be subject to federal income tax at the
same rate.
Treasury regulations provide, however, that interest or original issue
discount paid by the trustee or other withholding agent to a Non-U.S. Person
evidencing ownership interest in mortgage loans issued after July 18, 1984
will be "portfolio interest" and will be treated in the manner, and these
persons will be subject to the same certification requirements, described
above under "--REMICs--Taxation of Certain Foreign Investors--Regular
Securities."
Partnership Trust Funds & Debt Securities
Classification of Partnership Trust Funds and Debt Securities
For each series of Partnership Securities or Debt Securities, Brown &
Wood LLP will deliver its opinion that the trust fund will not be a taxable
mortgage pool or an association (or publicly traded partnership) taxable as a
corporation for federal income tax purposes. This opinion will be based on the
assumption that the terms of the related Agreement and related documents will
be complied with, and on counsel's opinion that the nature of the income of
the trust fund will exempt it from the rule that certain publicly traded
partnerships are taxable as corporations.
Characterization of Investments in Partnership Securities and Debt Securities
For federal income tax purposes, (1) Partnership Securities and Debt
Securities held by a thrift institution taxed as a domestic building and loan
association will not constitute "loans . . . secured by an interest in real
property which is . . . residual real property" within the meaning of Code
Section 7701(a)(19)(C)(v) and (2) interest on Debt Securities held by a real
estate investment trust will not be treated as "interest on obligations
secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property" within
the meaning of Code Section 856(c)(3)(B), and Debt Securities held by a real
estate investment trust will not constitute "real estate assets" within the
meaning of Code Section 856(c)(4)(A), but Partnership Securities held by a
real estate investment trust will qualify under those sections based on the
real estate investments trust's proportionate interest in the assets of the
Partnership Trust Fund based on capital accounts.
Taxation of Debt Securityholders
The depositor will agree, and the securityholders will agree by their
purchase of Debt Securities, to treat the Debt Securities as debt for federal
income tax purposes. No regulations, published rulings, or judicial decisions
exist that discuss the characterization for federal income tax purposes of
Securities with terms substantially the same as the Debt Securities. However,
for each series of Debt Securities, Brown & Wood LLP will deliver its opinion
that the Debt Securities will be classified as indebtedness for federal income
tax purposes. The discussion below assumes this characterization of the Debt
Securities is correct.
If, contrary to the opinion of counsel, the Internal Revenue Service
successfully asserted that the Debt Securities were not debt for federal
income tax purposes, the Debt Securities might be treated as equity interests
in the Partnership Trust, and the timing and amount of income allocable to
holders of those Debt Securities may be different than as described in the
following paragraph.
Debt Securities generally will be subject to the same rules of taxation
as Regular Securities issued by a REMIC, as described above, except that (1)
income reportable on Debt Securities is not required to be reported under the
accrual method unless the holder otherwise uses the accrual method and (2) the
special rule treating a portion of the gain on sale or exchange of a Regular
Security as ordinary income is inapplicable to Debt Securities. See
"--REMICs--Taxation of Owners of REMIC Regular Interests" and "--Sale or
Exchange of Regular Securities."
Taxation of Owners of Partnership Securities
(1) Treatment of the Partnership Trust Fund as a Partnership
If specified in the prospectus supplement, the depositor will agree, and
the securityholders will agree by their purchase of Securities, to treat the
Partnership Trust Fund as a partnership for purposes of federal and state
income tax, franchise tax and any other tax measured in whole or in part by
income, with the assets of the partnership being the assets held by the
Partnership Trust Fund, the partners of the partnership being the
securityholders (including the depositor), and the Debt Securities (if any)
being debt of the partnership. However, the proper characterization of the
arrangement involving the Partnership Trust Fund, the Partnership Securities,
the Debt Securities, and the depositor is not clear, because there is no
authority on transactions closely comparable to that contemplated herein.
A variety of alternative characterizations are possible. For example,
because one or more of the classes of Partnership Securities have some
features characteristic of debt, the Partnership Securities might be
considered debt of the depositor or the Partnership Trust Fund. This
characterization would not result in materially adverse tax consequences to
securityholders as compared to the consequences from treatment of the
Partnership Securities as equity in a partnership, described below. The
following discussion assumes that the Partnership Securities represent equity
interests in a partnership.
(2) Partnership Taxation
As a partnership, the Partnership Trust Fund will not be subject to
federal income tax. Rather, each securityholder will be required to separately
take into account that holder's allocated share of income, gains, losses,
deductions and credits of the Partnership Trust Fund. It is anticipated that
the Partnership Trust Fund's income will consist primarily of interest earned
on the mortgage loans (including appropriate adjustments for market discount,
original issue discount and bond premium) as described above under "--Grantor
Trust Funds--Standard Securities--General," and "--Premium and Discount" and
any gain upon collection or disposition of mortgage loans. The Partnership
Trust Fund's deductions will consist primarily of interest accruing with
respect to the Debt Securities, servicing and other fees, and losses or
deductions upon collection or disposition of Debt Securities.
The tax items of a partnership are allocable to the partners in
accordance with the Code, Treasury regulations and the partnership agreement
(here, the trust agreement and related documents). The trust agreement will
provide, in general, that the securityholders will be allocated taxable income
of the Partnership Trust Fund for each period equal to the sum of:
(1) the interest that accrues on the Partnership Securities in accordance
with their terms for that Due Period, including interest accruing at the
applicable Interest Rate for that Due Period and interest on amounts
previously due on the Partnership Securities but not yet distributed;
(2) any Partnership Trust Fund income attributable to discount on the
mortgage loans that corresponds to any excess of the principal amount of
the Partnership Securities over their initial issue price; and
(3) any other amounts of income payable to the securityholders for that
period.
This allocation will be reduced by any amortization by the Partnership
Trust Fund of premium on mortgage loans that corresponds to any excess of the
issue price of Partnership Securities over their principal amount. All
remaining taxable income of the Partnership Trust Fund will be allocated to
the depositor. Based on the economic arrangement of the parties, this approach
for allocating Partnership Trust Fund income should be permissible under
applicable Treasury regulations, although no assurance can be given that the
Internal Revenue Service would not require a greater amount of income to be
allocated to securityholders. Moreover, even under the foregoing method of
allocation, securityholders may be allocated income equal to the entire
Interest Rate plus the other items described above even though the trust fund
might not have sufficient cash to make current cash distributions of that
amount. Thus, cash basis holders will in effect be required to report income
from the Partnership Securities on the accrual basis and securityholders may
become liable for taxes on Partnership Trust Fund income even if they have not
received cash from the Partnership Trust Fund to pay those taxes.
Part or all of the taxable income allocated to a securityholder that is a
pension, profit sharing or employee benefit plan or other tax-exempt entity
(including an individual retirement account) may constitute "unrelated
business taxable income" generally taxable to that holder under the Code.
A share of expenses of the Partnership Trust Fund (including fees of the
master servicer but not interest expense) allocable to an individual, estate
or trust securityholder would be miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to
the limitations described above under "--Grantor Trust Funds--Standard
Securities--General." Accordingly, those deductions might be disallowed to the
individual in whole or in part and might result in that holder being taxed on
an amount of income that exceeds the amount of cash actually distributed to
that holder over the life of the Partnership Trust Fund.
Discount income or premium amortization for each mortgage loan would be
calculated in a manner similar to the description above under "--Grantor Trust
Funds--Standard Securities--General" and "--Premium and Discount."
Notwithstanding that description, it is intended that the Partnership Trust
Fund will make all tax calculations relating to income and allocations to
securityholders on a total basis for all mortgage loans held by the
Partnership Trust Fund rather than on a mortgage loan-by-mortgage loan basis.
If the Internal Revenue Service were to require that these calculations be
made separately for each mortgage loan, the Partnership Trust Fund might be
required to incur additional expense, but it is believed that there would not
be a material adverse effect on securityholders.
(3) Discount and Premium
It is not anticipated that the mortgage loans will have been issued with
original issue discount and, therefore, the Partnership Trust Fund should not
have original issue discount income. However, the purchase price paid by the
Partnership Trust Fund for the mortgage loans may be greater or less than the
remaining principal balance of the mortgage loans at the time of purchase. If
so, the mortgage loans will have been acquired at a premium or discount, as
the case may be. See "--Grantor Trust Funds--Standard Securities." (As
indicated above, the Partnership Trust Fund will make this calculation on a
total basis, but might be required to recompute it on a mortgage
loan-by-mortgage loan basis.)
If the Partnership Trust Fund acquires the mortgage loans at a market
discount or premium, the Partnership Trust Fund will elect to include that
discount in income currently as it accrues over the life of the mortgage loans
or to offset that premium against interest income on the mortgage loans. As
indicated above, a portion of that market discount income or premium deduction
may be allocated to securityholders.
(4) Section 708 Termination
Under Section 708 of the Code, the Partnership Trust Fund will be deemed
to terminate for federal income tax purposes if 50% or more of the capital and
profits interests in the Partnership Trust Fund are sold or exchanged within a
12-month period. If that termination occurs, it would cause a deemed
contribution of the assets of a Partnership Trust Fund (the "old partnership")
to a new Partnership Trust Fund (the "new partnership") in exchange for
interests in the new partnership. Those interests would be deemed distributed
to the partners of the old partnership in liquidation thereof, which would not
constitute a sale or exchange. The Partnership Trust Fund will not comply with
certain technical requirements that might apply when the constructive
termination occurs. As a result, the Partnership Trust Fund may be subject to
certain tax penalties and may incur additional expenses if it is required to
comply with those requirements. Furthermore, the Partnership Trust Fund might
not be able to comply due to lack of data.
(5) Disposition of Securities
Generally, capital gain or loss will be recognized on a sale of
Partnership Securities in an amount equal to the difference between the amount
realized and the seller's tax basis in the Partnership Securities sold. A
securityholder's tax basis in an Partnership Security will generally equal the
holder's cost increased by the holder's share of Partnership Trust Fund income
(includible in income) and decreased by any distributions received with
respect to that Partnership Security. In addition, both the tax basis in the
Partnership Securities and the amount realized on a sale of an Partnership
Security would include the holder's share of the Debt Securities and other
liabilities of the Partnership Trust Fund. A holder acquiring Partnership
Securities at different prices may be required to maintain a single total
adjusted tax basis in those Partnership Securities, and, upon sale or other
disposition of some of the Partnership Securities, allocate a portion of that
total tax basis to the Partnership Securities sold (rather than maintaining a
separate tax basis in each Partnership Security for purposes of computing gain
or loss on a sale of that Partnership Security).
Any gain on the sale of an Partnership Security attributable to the
holder's share of unrecognized accrued market discount on the mortgage loans
would generally be treated as ordinary income to the holder and would give
rise to special tax reporting requirements. The Partnership Trust Fund does
not expect to have any other assets that would give rise to those special
reporting considerations. Thus, to avoid those special reporting requirements,
the Partnership Trust Fund will elect to include market discount in income as
it accrues.
If a securityholder is required to recognize a total amount of income
(not including income attributable to disallowed itemized deductions described
above) over the life of the Partnership Securities that exceeds the total cash
distributions with respect thereto, that excess will generally give rise to a
capital loss upon the retirement of the Partnership Securities.
(6) Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees
In general, the Partnership Trust Fund's taxable income and losses will
be determined each Due Period and the tax items for a particular Due Period
will be apportioned among the securityholders in proportion to the principal
amount of Partnership Securities owned by them as of the close of the last day
of that Due Period. As a result, a holder purchasing Partnership Securities
may be allocated tax items (which will affect its tax liability and tax basis)
attributable to periods before the actual transaction.
The use of a Due Period convention may not be permitted by existing
regulations. If a Due Period convention is not allowed (or only applies to
transfers of less than all of the partner's interest), taxable income or
losses of the Partnership Trust Fund might be reallocated among the
securityholders. The depositor will be authorized to revise the Partnership
Trust Fund's method of allocation between transferors and transferees to
conform to a method permitted by future regulations.
(7) Section 731 Distributions
In the case of any distribution to a securityholder, no gain will be
recognized to that securityholder to the extent that the amount of any money
distributed for that Security exceeds the adjusted basis of that
securityholder's interest in the Security. To the extent that the amount of
money distributed exceeds that securityholder's adjusted basis, gain will be
currently recognized. In the case of any distribution to a securityholder, no
loss will be recognized except upon a distribution in liquidation of a
securityholder's interest. Any gain or loss recognized by a securityholder
will be capital gain or loss.
(8) Section 754 Election
If a securityholder sells its Partnership Securities at a profit (loss),
the purchasing securityholder will have a higher (lower) basis in the
Partnership Securities than the selling securityholder had. The tax basis of
the Partnership Trust Fund's assets would not be adjusted to reflect that
higher (or lower) basis unless the Partnership Trust Fund were to file an
election under Section 754 of the Code. To avoid the administrative
complexities that would be involved in keeping accurate accounting records, as
well as potentially onerous information reporting requirements, the
Partnership Trust Fund will not make that election. As a result,
securityholder might be allocated a greater or lesser amount of Partnership
Trust Fund income than would be appropriate based on their own purchase price
for Partnership Securities.
(9) Administrative Matters
The trustee is required to keep or have kept complete and accurate books
of the Partnership Trust Fund. These books will be maintained for financial
reporting and tax purposes on an accrual basis and the fiscal year of the
Partnership Trust Fund will be the calendar year. The trustee will file a
partnership information return (Form 1065) with the Internal Revenue Service
for each taxable year of the Partnership Trust Fund and will report each
securityholder's allocable share of items of Partnership Trust Fund income and
expense to holders and the Internal Revenue Service on Schedule K-1. The
trustee will provide the Schedule K-1 information to nominees that fail to
provide the Partnership Trust Fund with the information statement described
below and these nominees will be required to forward that information to the
beneficial owners of the Partnership Securities. Generally, holders must file
tax returns that are consistent with the information return filed by the
Partnership Trust Fund or be subject to penalties unless the holder notifies
the Internal Revenue Service of all those inconsistencies.
Under Section 6031 of the Code, any person that holds Partnership
Securities as a nominee at any time during a calendar year is required to
furnish the Partnership Trust Fund with a statement containing certain
information on the nominee, the beneficial owners and the Partnership
Securities so held. This information includes (1) the name, address and
taxpayer identification number of the nominee and (2) as to each beneficial
owner (a) the name, address and identification number of that person, (b)
whether that person is a United States person, a tax-exempt entity or a
foreign government, an international organization, or any wholly-owned agency
or instrumentality of either of the foregoing, and (c) certain information on
Partnership Securities that were held, bought or sold on behalf of that person
throughout the year. In addition, brokers and financial institutions that hold
Partnership Securities through a nominee are required to furnish directly to
the trustee information as to themselves and their ownership of Partnership
Securities. A clearing agency registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act
is not required to furnish that information statement to the Partnership Trust
Fund. The information referred to above for any calendar year must be
furnished to the Partnership Trust Fund on or before the following January 31.
Nominees, brokers and financial institutions that fail to provide the
Partnership Trust Fund with the information described above may be subject to
penalties.
Unless another designation is made, the depositor will be designated as
the tax matters partner in the trust agreement and, as the tax matters
partner, will be responsible for representing the securityholders in any
dispute with the Internal Revenue Service. The Code provides for
administrative examination of a partnership as if the partnership were a
separate and distinct taxpayer. Generally, the statute of limitations for
partnership items does not expire until three years after the date on which
the partnership information return is filed. Any adverse determination
following an audit of the return of the Partnership Trust Fund by the
appropriate taxing authorities could result in an adjustment of the returns of
the securityholders, and, under certain circumstances, a securityholder may be
precluded from separately litigating a proposed adjustment to the items of the
Partnership Trust Fund. An adjustment could also result in an audit of a
securityholder's returns and adjustments of items not related to the income
and losses of the Partnership Trust Fund.
Tax Consequences to Foreign Securityholders
It is not clear whether the Partnership Trust Fund would be considered to
be engaged in a trade or business in the United States for purposes of federal
withholding taxes with respect to Non-U.S. Persons, because there is no clear
authority dealing with that issue under facts substantially similar to those
described herein. Although it is not expected that the Partnership Trust Fund
would be engaged in a trade or business in the United States for those
purposes, the Partnership Trust Fund will withhold as if it were so engaged to
protect the Partnership Trust Fund from possible adverse consequences of a
failure to withhold. The Partnership Trust Fund expects to withhold on the
portion of its taxable income that is allocable to securityholders who are
Non-U.S. Persons pursuant to Section 1446 of the Code, as if that income were
effectively connected to a U.S. trade or business, at a rate of 35% for
Non-U.S. Persons that are taxable as corporations and 39.6% for all other
foreign holders. Amounts withheld will be deemed distributed to the Non-U.S.
Person securityholders. Subsequent adoption of Treasury regulations or the
issuance of other administrative pronouncements may require the Partnership
Trust Fund to change its withholding procedures. In determining a holder's
withholding status, the Partnership Trust Fund may rely on Form W-8, Form W-9
or the holder's certification of nonforeign status signed under penalties of
perjury.
Each Non-U.S. Person holder might be required to file a U.S. individual
or corporate income tax return (including, in the case of a corporation, the
branch profits tax) on its share of the Partnership Trust Fund's income. Each
Non-U.S. Person holder must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the
Internal Revenue Service and submit that number to the Partnership Trust Fund
on Form W-8 to assure appropriate crediting of the taxes withheld. A Non-U.S.
Person holder generally would be entitled to file with the Internal Revenue
Service a claim for refund for taxes withheld by the Partnership Trust Fund,
taking the position that no taxes were due because the Partnership Trust Fund
was not engaged in a U.S. trade or business. However, interest payments made
(or accrued) to a securityholder who is a Non-U.S. Person generally will be
considered guaranteed payments to the extent that those payments are
determined without regard to the income of the Partnership Trust Fund. If
these interest payments are properly characterized as guaranteed payments,
then the interest may not be considered "portfolio interest." As a result,
securityholders who are Non-U.S. Persons may be subject to United States
federal income tax and withholding tax at a rate of 30%, unless reduced or
eliminated pursuant to an applicable treaty. In that case, a Non-U.S. Person
holder would only be entitled to claim a refund for that portion of the taxes
in excess of the taxes that should be withheld for the guaranteed payments.
Backup Withholding
Distributions made on the Partnership Securities and proceeds from the
sale of the Partnership Securities will be subject to a "backup" withholding
tax of 31% if, in general, the securityholder fails to comply with certain
identification procedures, unless the holder is an exempt recipient under
applicable provisions of the Code.
State Tax Considerations
In addition to the federal income tax consequences described in "Material
Federal Income Tax Considerations," potential investors should consider the
state income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition
of the Securities. State and local income tax law may differ substantially
from the corresponding federal law, and this discussion does not purport to
describe any aspect of the income tax laws of any state or locality.
Therefore, potential investors should consult their own tax advisors with
respect to the various state and local tax consequences of investment in the
Notes or Certificates. In particular, potential investors in Residual Interest
Certificates should consult their tax advisers regarding the taxation of the
Residual Interest Certificates in general and the effect of foreclosure on the
Mortgaged Properties on such taxation.
ERISA Considerations
General
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA"), and the Code impose certain requirements on employee benefit plans
and on certain other retirement plans and arrangements, including individual
retirement accounts and annuities, Keogh plans and collective investment funds
and separate accounts in which these plans, accounts or arrangements are
invested, that are subject to Title I of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code
("Plans") and on persons who are fiduciaries for those Plans in connection
with the investment of Plan assets. Some employee benefit plans, such as
governmental plans (as defined in ERISA Section 3(32)), and, if no election
has been made under Section 410(d) of the Code, church plans (as defined in
Section 3(33) of ERISA) are not subject to ERISA requirements. Therefore,
assets of these plans may be invested in Securities without regard to the
ERISA considerations described below, subject to the provisions of other
applicable federal, state and local law. Any of these plans that is qualified
and exempt from taxation under Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the Code,
however, is subject to the prohibited transaction rules set forth in Section
503 of the Code.
ERISA generally imposes on Plan fiduciaries certain general fiduciary
requirements, including those of investment prudence and diversification and
the requirement that a Plan's investments be made in accordance with the
documents governing the Plan. In addition, ERISA and the Code prohibit a broad
range of transactions involving assets of a Plan and persons ("Parties in
Interest") who have certain specified relationships to the Plan unless a
statutory or administrative exemption is available. Certain Parties in
Interest that participate in a prohibited transaction may be subject to an
excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 4975 of the Code, unless a statutory or
administrative exemption is available. These prohibited transactions generally
are set forth in Sections 406 and 407 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code.
A Plan's investment in Securities may cause the Primary Assets and other
assets included in a related trust fund to be deemed Plan assets. Section
2510.3-101 of the regulations of the United States Department of Labor ("DOL")
provides that when a Plan acquires an equity interest in an entity, the Plan's
assets include both an equity interest and an undivided interest in each of
the underlying assets of the entity, unless certain exceptions not applicable
here apply, or unless the equity participation in the entity by "benefit plan
investors" (i.e., Plans and certain employee benefit plans not subject to
ERISA) is not "significant," both as defined therein. For this purpose, in
general, equity participation by benefit plan investors will be "significant"
on any date if 25% or more of the value of any class of equity interests in
the entity is held by benefit plan investors. To the extent the Securities are
treated as equity interests for purposes of DOL regulations Section
2510.3-101, equity participation in a trust fund will be significant on any
date if immediately after the most recent acquisition of any Security, 25% or
more of any class of Securities is held by benefit plan investors.
Any person who has discretionary authority or control respecting the
management or disposition of Plan assets, and any person who provides
investment advice for those assets for a fee, is a fiduciary of the investing
Plan. If the Primary Assets and other assets included in a trust fund
constitute Plan assets, then any party exercising management or discretionary
control regarding those assets, such as the servicer or master servicer, may
be deemed to be a Plan "fiduciary" and thus subject to the fiduciary
responsibility provisions and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and
the Code for the investing Plan. In addition, if the Primary Assets and other
assets included in a trust fund constitute Plan assets, the purchase of
Securities by a Plan, as well as the operation of the trust fund, may
constitute or involve a prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code.
The DOL issued an individual exemption to Lehman Brothers Inc.
(Prohibited Transaction Exemption 91-14 et al.; Exemption Application No.
D-7958 et al., 56 Fed. Reg. 7413 (1991)) (the "Exemption") that generally
exempts from the application of the prohibited transaction provisions of
Sections 406(a) and 407 of ERISA, and the excise taxes imposed on those
prohibited transactions pursuant to Section 4975(a) and (b) of the Code,
certain transactions, among others, relating to the servicing and operation of
mortgage pools and the purchase, sale and holding of Securities underwritten
by an underwriter, that (1) represent a beneficial ownership interest in the
assets of a trust fund and entitle the holder the pass-through payments of
principal, interest and/or other payments made with respect to the assets of
the trust fund or (2) are denominated as a debt instrument and represent an
interest in a REMIC, provided that certain conditions set forth in the
Exemption are satisfied.
For purposes of this Section "ERISA Considerations," the term
"underwriter" will include (a) Lehman Brothers Inc., (b) any person directly
or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controlling, controlled by
or under common control with Lehman Brothers Inc., and (c) any member of the
underwriting syndicate or selling group of which a person described in (a) or
(b) is a manager or co-manager for a class of Securities.
The Exemption sets forth five general conditions that must be satisfied
for a transaction involving the purchase, sale and holding of Securities to be
eligible for exemptive relief thereunder:
o The acquisition of Securities by a Plan must be on terms (including
the price for the Securities) that are at least as favorable to the
Plan as they would be in an arm's-length transaction with an unrelated
party.
o The Exemption only applies to Securities evidencing rights and
interests not subordinated to the rights and interests evidenced by
the other Securities of the trust fund.
o The Securities at the time of acquisition by the Plan must be rated in
one of the three highest generic rating categories by Standard &
Poor's Ratings Services, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
("S&P"), Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's"), Duff & Phelps Credit
Rating Co. ("DCR") or Fitch IBCA, Inc. ("Fitch").
o The sum of all payments made to and retained by the underwriter(s)
must represent not more than reasonable compensation for underwriting
the Securities; the sum of all payments made to and retained by the
depositor pursuant to the assignment of the assets to the related
trust fund must represent not more than the fair market value of those
obligations; and the sum of all payments made to and retained by the
master servicer and any other servicer must represent not more than
reasonable compensation for that person's services under the related
Agreement and reimbursement of that person's reasonable expenses in
connection therewith; and
o The Plan investing in the Securities must be an accredited investor as
defined in Rule 501(a)(1) of Regulation D of the Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Moreover, the Exemption provides relief from certain
self-dealing/conflict of interest prohibited transactions only if, among other
requirements: (1) no fiduciary (or its affiliate) is an obligor with respect
to more than five percent of the fair market value of the obligations
contained in the trust fund; (2) the Plan's investment in securities does not
exceed twenty-five percent of all of the Securities outstanding at the time of
the acquisition and (3) immediately after the acquisition, no more than
twenty-five percent of the assets of the Plan are invested in securities
representing an interest in one or more trusts containing assets sold or
serviced by the same entity.
A fiduciary of a Plan contemplating purchasing a Security must make its
own determination that the general conditions set forth above will be
satisfied for that Security. However, to the extent Securities are
subordinate, the Exemption will not apply to an investment by a Plan.
If the general conditions of the Exemption are satisfied, the Exemption
may provide an exemption from the restrictions imposed by Sections 406(a) and
407 of ERISA (as well as the excise taxes imposed by Sections 4975(a) and (b)
of the Code by reason of Sections 4975(c) (1)(A) through (D) of the Code) in
connection with the direct or indirect sale, exchange, transfer, holding or
the direct or indirect acquisition or disposition in the secondary market of
Securities by Plans. However, no exemption is provided from the restrictions
of Sections 406(a)(1)(E), 406(a)(2) and 407 of ERISA for the acquisition or
holding of a Security on behalf of an "Excluded Plan" by any person who has
discretionary authority or renders investment advice with respect to the
assets of that Excluded Plan. For purposes of the Securities, an Excluded Plan
is a Plan sponsored by any member of the Restricted Group.
If certain specific conditions of the Exemption are also satisfied, the
Exemption may provide an exemption from the restrictions imposed by Sections
406(b)(1) and (2) of ERISA and the taxes imposed by Sections 4975(a) and (b)
of the Code by reason of Section 4975(c)(1)(E) of the Code in connection with
(1) the direct or indirect sale, exchange or transfer of Securities
in the initial issuance of Securities between the depositor or an
underwriter and a Plan when the person who has discretionary authority or
renders investment advice with respect to the investment of Plan assets
in the Securities is (a) an obligor with respect to 5% or less of the
fair market value of the assets of the trust fund or (b) an affiliate of
that person;
(2) the direct or indirect acquisition or disposition in the
secondary market of Securities by a Plan; and
(3) the holding of Securities by a Plan.
Further, if certain specific conditions of the Exemption are satisfied,
the Exemption may provide an exemption from the restrictions imposed by
Sections 406(a), 406(b) and 407 of ERISA, and the taxes imposed by Sections
4975(a) and (b) of the Code by reason of Section 4975(c) of the Code for
transactions in connection with the servicing, management and operation of the
trust fund. The depositor expects that the specific conditions of the
Exemption required for this purpose will be satisfied for the Securities so
that the Exemption would provide an exemption from the restrictions imposed by
Sections 406(a) and (b) of ERISA (as well as the excise taxes imposed by
Sections 4975(a) and (b) of the Code by reason of Section 4975(c) of the Code)
for transactions in connection with the servicing, management and operation of
the Mortgage Pools, provided that the general conditions of the Exemption are
satisfied.
The Exemption also may provide an exemption from the restrictions imposed
by Sections 406(a) and 407(a) of ERISA, and the taxes imposed by Section
4975(a) and (b) of the Code by reason of Sections 4975(c)(1)(A) through (D) of
the Code if those restrictions are deemed to otherwise apply merely because a
person is deemed to be a "party in interest" (within the meaning of Section
3(14) of ERISA) or a "disqualified person" (within the meaning of Section
4975(e)(2) of the Code) with respect to an investing Plan by virtue of
providing services to the Plan (or by virtue of having certain specified
relationships to that person) solely as a result of the Plan's ownership of
Securities.
To the extent the Securities are not treated as equity interests for
purposes of DOL regulations Section 2510.3-101, a Plan's investment in those
Securities ("Non-Equity Securities") would not cause the assets included in a
related trust fund to be deemed Plan assets. However, the depositor, the
master servicer, the servicer, the trustee, or underwriter may be the sponsor
of or investment advisor with respect to one or more Plans. Because these
parties may receive certain benefits in connection with the sale of Non-Equity
Securities, the purchase of Non-Equity Securities using Plan assets over which
any of these parties has investment authority might be deemed to be a
violation of the prohibited transaction rules of ERISA and the Code for which
no exemption may be available. Accordingly, Non-Equity Securities may not be
purchased using the assets of any Plan if any of the depositor, the servicer,
the trustee or underwriter has investment authority for those assets.
In addition, certain affiliates of the depositor might be considered or
might become Parties in Interest with respect to a Plan. Also, any holder of
Securities, because of its activities or the activities of its respective
affiliates, may be deemed to be a Party in Interest with respect to certain
Plans, including but not limited to Plans sponsored by that holder. In either
case, the acquisition or holding of Non-Equity Securities by or on behalf of
that Plan could be considered to give rise to an indirect prohibited
transaction within the meaning of ERISA and the Code, unless it is subject to
one or more statutory or administrative exemptions such as Prohibited
Transaction Class Exemption ("PTCE") 84-14, which exempts certain transactions
effected on behalf of a Plan by a "qualified professional asset manager," PTCE
90-1, which exempts certain transactions involving insurance company pooled
separate accounts, PTCE 91-38, which exempts certain transactions involving
bank collective investment funds, PTCE 95-60, which exempts certain
transactions involving insurance company general accounts, or PTCE 96-23,
which exempts certain transactions effected on behalf of a Plan by certain
"in-house" asset managers. It should be noted, however, that even if the
conditions specified in one or more of these exemptions are met, the scope of
relief provided by these exemptions may not necessarily cover all acts that
might be construed as prohibited transactions.
Any Plan fiduciary that proposes to cause a Plan to purchase Securities
should consult with its counsel with respect to the potential applicability of
ERISA and the Code to that investment, the availability of the exemptive
relief provided in the Exemption and the potential applicability of any other
prohibited transaction exemption in connection therewith. In particular, a
Plan fiduciary that proposes to cause a Plan to purchase Securities
representing a beneficial ownership interest in a pool of single-family
residential first mortgage loans, a Plan fiduciary should consider the
applicability of PTCE 83-1, which provides exemptive relief for certain
transactions involving mortgage pool investment trusts. The prospectus
supplement for a series of Securities may contain additional information
regarding the application of the Exemption, PTCE 83-1 or any other exemption,
with respect to the Securities offered thereby. In addition, any Plan
fiduciary that proposes to cause a Plan to purchase Stripped Securities should
consider the federal income tax consequences of that investment.
Any Plan fiduciary considering whether to purchase a Security on behalf
of a Plan should consult with its counsel regarding the applicability of the
fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and
the Code to that investment.
The sale of Securities to a Plan is in no respect a representation by the
depositor or the underwriter that this investment meets all relevant legal
requirements for investments by Plans generally or any particular Plan, or
that this investment is appropriate for Plans generally or any particular
Plan.
Pre-Funding Accounts
On July 21, 1997, the DOL published in the Federal Register an amendment
to the Exemption, which extends exemptive relief to certain mortgage-backed
and asset-backed securities transactions using pre-funding accounts for trusts
issuing pass-through certificates. The amendment generally allows assets in a
trust fund supporting payments to securityholders, and having a value equal to
no more than 25% of the total initial principal balance of the related
Securities, to be transferred to the trust fund within the Pre-Funding Period,
instead of requiring that all the Primary Assets be either identified or
transferred on or before the closing date. The relief is available when the
following conditions are met:
(1) The ratio of the amount allocated to the Pre-Funding Account to
the total principal amount of the Securities being offered (the
"Pre-Funding Limit") must not exceed 25%.
(2) All assets transferred after the closing date (the "Subsequent
Assets") must meet the same terms and conditions for eligibility as the
original Primary Assets used to create the trust fund, which terms and
conditions have been approved by at least one rating agency.
(3) The transfer of the Subsequent Assets to the trust fund during
the Pre-Funding Period must not result in the Securities that are to be
covered by the Exemption receiving a lower credit rating from a rating
agency upon termination of the Pre-Funding Period than the rating that
was obtained at the time of the initial issuance of the Securities by the
trust fund.
(4) Solely as a result of the use of pre-funding, the weighted
average annual percentage interest rate for all of the Primary Assets in
the trust fund at the end of the Pre-Funding Period must not be more than
100 basis points lower than the average interest rate for the Primary
Assets transferred to the trust fund on the closing date.
(5) In order to ensure that the characteristics of the Subsequent
Assets are substantially similar to the original Primary Assets that were
transferred to the trust fund:
o the characteristics of the Subsequent Assets must be monitored by
an insurer or other credit support provider that is independent
of the depositor; or
o an independent accountant retained by the depositor must provide
the depositor with a letter (with copies provided to each rating
agency rating the Securities, the underwriter and the trustee)
stating whether or not the characteristics of the Subsequent
Assets conform to the characteristics described in the related
prospectus supplement and/or the related Agreement. In preparing
this letter, the independent accountant must use the same type of
procedures as were applicable to the Primary Assets transferred
to the trust fund as of the closing date.
(6) The Pre-Funding Period must end no later than three months or 90
days after the closing date (or earlier in certain circumstances) if the
Pre-Funding Account falls below the minimum level specified in the
related Agreement or an Event of Default occurs.
(7) Amounts transferred to the Pre-Funding Account and/or the
capitalized interest account used in connection with the pre-funding may
be invested only in certain permitted investments ("Permitted
Investments").
(8) The prospectus or prospectus supplement must describe:
o the Pre-Funding Account and/or capitalized interest account
used in connection with the Pre-Funding Account;
o the duration of the Pre-Funding Period;
o the percentage and/or dollar amount of the Pre-Funding Limit
for the trust fund; and
o that the amounts remaining in the Pre-Funding Account at the
end of the Pre-Funding Period will be remitted to
securityholders as repayments of principal.
(9) The related Agreement must prescribe the Permitted Investments for
the Pre-Funding Account and/or capitalized interest account and, if not
disclosed in the prospectus supplement, the terms and conditions for
eligibility of Subsequent Assets.
Legal Investment Considerations
The prospectus supplement for each series of Securities will specify
which, if any, of the classes of Offered Securities will constitute "mortgage
related securities" for purposes of the Secondary Mortgage Market Enhancement
Act of 1984, as amended ("SMMEA"). Classes of Securities that qualify as
"mortgage related securities" will be legal investments for persons, trusts,
corporations, partnerships, associations, business trusts and business
entities (including depository institutions, life insurance companies and
pension funds) created pursuant to or existing under the laws of the United
States or of any state (including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico)
whose authorized investments are subject to state regulation to the same
extent as, under applicable law, obligations issued by or guaranteed as to
principal and interest by the United States or any of these entities. Under
SMMEA, if a state enacted legislation prior to October 4, 1991 specifically
limiting the legal investment authority of any such entities with respect to
"mortgage related securities," the Securities will constitute legal
investments for entities subject to this legislation only to the extent
provided therein. Approximately twenty-one states adopted the legislation
prior to the October 4, 1991 deadline.
SMMEA also amended the legal investment authority of federally-chartered
depository institution as follows: federal savings and loan associations and
federal savings banks may invest in, sell or otherwise deal in Securities
without limitations as to the percentage of their assets represented thereby,
federal credit unions may invest in mortgage related securities, and national
banks may purchase Securities for their own account without regard to the
limitations generally applicable to investment securities set forth in 12
U.S.C. 24 (Seventh), subject in each case to any regulations the applicable
federal authority may prescribe. In this connection, federal credit unions
should review the National Credit Union Administration ("NCUA") Letter to
Credit Unions No. 96, as modified by Letter to Credit Unions No. 108, which
includes guidelines to assist federal credit unions in making investment
decisions for mortgage related securities, and the NCUA's regulation
"Investment and Deposit Activities" (12 C.F.R. Part 703), (whether or not the
class of Securities under consideration for purchase constitutes a "mortgage
related security").
All depository institutions considering an investment in the Securities
(whether or not the class of securities under consideration for purchase
constitutes a "mortgage related security" should review the Federal Financial
Institutions Examination Council's Supervisory Policy Statement on Securities
Activities (to the extent adopted by their respective regulators) (the "Policy
Statement"), setting forth, in relevant part, certain securities trading and
sales practices deemed unsuitable for an institution's investment portfolio,
and guidelines for (and restrictions on) investing in mortgage derivative
products, including "mortgage related securities" that are "high-risk mortgage
securities" as defined in the Policy Statement. According to the Policy
Statement, "high-risk mortgage securities" include securities such as the
Securities not entitled to distributions allocated to principal or interest,
or Subordinated Securities. Under the Policy Statement, it is the
responsibility of each depository institution to determine, prior to purchase
(and at stated intervals thereafter), whether a particular mortgage derivative
product is a "high-risk mortgage security," and whether the purchase (or
retention) of the product would be consistent with the Policy Statement.
The foregoing does not take into consideration the applicability of
statutes, rules, regulations, orders, guidelines, or agreements generally
governing investments made by a particular investor, including, but no limited
to, "prudent investor" provisions, percentage-of-assets limits and provisions
that may restrict or prohibit investment in securities that are not "interest
bearing" or "income paying."
There may be other restrictions on the ability of certain investors,
including depository institutions, either to purchase Securities or to
purchase Securities representing more than a specified percentage of the
investor's assets. Investors should consult their own legal advisors in
determining whether and to what extent the Securities constitute legal
investments for these investors.
Legal Matters
Certain legal matters in connection with the Offered Securities will be
passed upon for the depositor and for the Underwriters, and the material
federal income tax consequences of the Securities will be passed upon for the
depositor, by Brown & Wood LLP, Washington, D.C.
The Depositor
The depositor, Structured Asset Securities Corporation, was incorporated
in the State of Delaware on January 2, 1987. The principal office of the
depositor is located at 200 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10285. Its
telephone number is (212) 526-5594.
The Certificate of Incorporation of the depositor provides that the
depositor may not conduct any activities other than those related to the issue
and sale of one or more series and to serve as depositor of one or more trusts
that may issue and sell bonds or securities. The Certificate of Incorporation
of the depositor provides that any securities, except for subordinated
securities, issued by the depositor must be rated in one of the three highest
categories available by any Rating Agency rating the series.
The series Supplement for a particular series may permit the Primary
Assets pledged to secure the related series of Securities to be transferred by
the Issuer to a trust, subject to the obligations of the Securities of that
series, thereby relieving the Issuer of its obligations with respect to the
Securities.
Use of Proceeds
The depositor will apply all or substantially all of the net proceeds
from the sale of each series offered hereby and by the prospectus supplement
to purchase the Primary Assets, to repay indebtedness that has been incurred
to obtain funds to acquire the Primary Assets, to establish the Reserve Funds,
if any, for the series and to pay costs of structuring and issuing the
Securities. If specified in the prospectus supplement, Securities may be
exchanged by the depositor for Primary Assets. Unless otherwise specified in
the prospectus supplement, the Primary Assets for each series of Securities
will be acquired by the depositor either directly, or through one or more
affiliates that will have acquired the Primary Assets from time to time either
in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.
Plan of Distribution
Each series of Securities offered hereby and by means of the prospectus
supplements may be offered through any one or more of the following: Lehman
Brothers Inc., an affiliate of the depositor; underwriting syndicates
represented by Lehman Brothers Inc.; any originator of Loans underlying a
series; or underwriters, agents or dealers selected by the originator
(collectively, the "Underwriters"). The prospectus supplement with respect to
each series of Securities will set forth the terms of the offering of the
series of Securities and each class within the series, including the name or
names of the Underwriters (if known), the proceeds to the depositor (if any),
and including either the initial public offering price, the discounts and
commissions to the Underwriters and any discounts or commissions allowed or
reallowed to certain dealers, or the method by which the prices at which the
Underwriters will sell the Securities will be determined.
The Underwriters may or may not be obligated to purchase all of the
Securities of a series described in the prospectus supplement with respect to
the series if any Securities are purchased. The Securities may be acquired by
the Underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in
one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public
offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale.
If so indicated in the prospectus supplement, the depositor will
authorize Underwriters or other persons acting as the depositor's agents to
solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase the Securities from the
depositor pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future
date. Institutions with which these contracts may be made include commercial
and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies,
educational and charitable institutions and others, but in all cases these
institutions must be approved by the depositor. The obligation of any
purchaser under the contract will be subject to the condition that the
purchase of the offered Securities will not at the time of delivery be
prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the purchaser is
subject. The Underwriters and any other agents will not have any
responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of the contracts.
The depositor may also sell the Securities offered hereby and by means of
the prospectus supplements from time to time in negotiated transactions or
otherwise, at prices determined at the time of sale. The depositor may effect
the transactions by selling Securities to or through dealers and the dealers
may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts, concessions or
commissions from the depositor and any purchasers of Securities for whom they
may act as agents.
The place and time of delivery for each series of Securities offered
hereby and by means of the prospectus supplement will be set forth in the
prospectus supplement with respect to the series.
In the ordinary course of business, Lehman Brothers Inc. or other
Underwriters, or their respective affiliates, may engage in various securities
and financing transactions, including loans or repurchase agreements to
provide interim financing of mortgage loans pending the sale of the mortgage
loans or interests therein, including the Securities.
Additional Information
The depositor has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, with respect to the Securities. This prospectus, which forms a part
of the Registration Statement, omits certain information contained in the
Registration Statement pursuant to the Rules and Regulations of the
Commission. The Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto can be
inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at certain
of its Regional Offices located as follows:
o Chicago Regional Office, Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street,
Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511; and
o New York Regional Office, 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York,
New York 10048.
Copies of these materials can also be obtained from the Public Reference
Section of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at
prescribed rates. The Commission also maintains a site on the World Wide Web
at "http://www.sec.gov" at which users can view and download copies of
reports, proxy and information statements and other information filed
electronically through the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval
("EDGAR") system. The Seller has filed the Registration Statement, including
all exhibits thereto, through the EDGAR system and therefore these materials
should be available by logging onto the Commission's Web site. The Commission
maintains computer terminals providing access to the EDGAR system at each of
the offices referred to above.
Copies of the most recent Fannie Mae Prospectus for Fannie Mae
certificates and Fannie Mae's annual report and quarterly financial statements
as well as other financial information are available from the Director of
Investor Relations of Fannie Mae, 3900 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20016 (202-752-7115). The depositor did not participate in the
preparation of Fannie Mae's Prospectus or its annual or quarterly reports or
other financial information and, accordingly, makes no representation as to
the accuracy or completeness of the information set forth therein.
Copies of the most recent Offering Circular for Freddie Mac certificates
as well as Freddie Mac's most recent Information Statement and Information
Statement Supplement and any quarterly report made available by Freddie Mac
can be obtained by writing or calling the Investor Inquiry department of
Freddie Mac at 8200 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, Virginia 22102 (outside
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, telephone 800-336-3672; within Washington,
D.C. metropolitan area, telephone 703-759-8160). The depositor did not
participate in the preparation of Freddie Mac's Offering Circular, Information
Statement or any supplement thereto or any quarterly report thereof and,
accordingly, makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of
the information set forth therein.
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference
All documents subsequently filed by or on behalf of the trust fund
referred to in the accompanying prospectus supplement with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), after the date of this prospectus
and prior to the termination of any offering of the Securities issued by the
trust fund will be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus
and to be a part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of the
documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein will be deemed to be modified or superseded
for all purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained
herein (or in the accompanying prospectus supplement) or in any other
subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference modifies or replaces the statement. Any statement so modified or
superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this prospectus.
The trustee on behalf of any trust fund will provide without charge to
each person to whom this prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral
request of that person, a copy of any or all of the documents referred to
above that have been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus
(not including exhibits to the information that is incorporated by reference
unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into the
information that this prospectus incorporates). Requests should be directed to
the Corporate Trust Office of the trustee specified in the accompanying
prospectus supplement.
Reports to Securityholders
Periodic and annual reports concerning the related trust fund are
required under the Agreements to be forwarded to securityholders. Unless
otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the reports will not be
examined and reported on by an independent public accountant. See "The
Agreements -- Reports to Securityholders."
<PAGE>
Index of Defined Terms
Adjustable Rate Mortgages..........................34
Agency Certificates................................18
Aggregate Asset Principal Balance...................5
Agreements.........................................76
Appraised Value................................32, 37
ARMs...............................................34
Asset Group.........................................2
Asset Principal Balance.............................5
Bankruptcy Code....................................62
Beneficial Owner....................................6
Bi-Weekly Loans....................................30
Book-Entry Registration.............................2
Book-Entry Securities...............................2
Business Day.......................................88
Buydown............................................71
Buy-Down Amounts...................................33
Buy-Down Fund......................................49
Buy-Down Loans.....................................33
Buy-Down Mortgage Rate.............................33
Buy-Down Period....................................33
Cash Program.......................................23
CERCLA............................................103
Certificates........................................1
Clearstream.........................................6
Collection Account.................................47
Commission........................................167
Compound Interest Securities........................1
Compound Value......................................4
Condominium........................................31
Condominium Association............................43
Condominium Building...............................43
Condominium Unit...................................31
Conventional Loans.................................22
Cooperative Corporation.............................7
Cooperative Dwellings..............................30
Cooperatives.......................................30
Covered Trust......................................61
CPR................................................13
Cut-off Date.......................................17
DCR...............................................160
Deferred Interest..................................15
Definitive Securities...............................2
Deleted Loan.......................................80
Distribution Account...............................88
DOL...............................................159
DTC.................................................6
Due Date...........................................52
EDGAR.............................................167
Eligible Investments...............................83
Eligible Reserve Fund Investments..................83
EPA...............................................104
ERISA.............................................158
ERISA Considerations..............................159
Escrow Accounts....................................46
Euroclear...........................................6
Euroclear Operator..................................7
European Depositaries...............................8
Exchange Act......................................168
Excluded Plan.....................................161
Exemption.........................................159
Expense Reserve Fund...............................88
Fannie Mae.........................................23
FHA................................................20
FHA Loans..........................................30
Final Scheduled Distribution Date..................13
Financial Intermediary..............................8
Fitch.............................................160
Floating Rate Securities............................1
Freddie Mac........................................26
Freddie Mac Act....................................26
FSLIC..............................................34
Garn-St Germain Act...............................104
GEM Loans..........................................30
Ginnie Mae.........................................20
Ginnie Mae Servicers...............................18
GPM Fund...........................................51
GPM Loans..........................................30
Guarantor Program..................................23
Guaranty Agreement.................................19
Holder-In-Due-Course..............................109
Housing Act........................................20
HUD................................................27
Index..............................................34
Indirect Participants...............................6
Insurance Policies.................................28
Insured Loss.......................................66
Interest Rate.......................................3
Interest Weighted Securities........................1
Investment and Deposit Activities.................165
L/C Bank...........................................63
L/C Percentage.....................................63
Lifetime Mortgage Rate Cap.........................34
Liquidation Proceeds...............................47
Loans..............................................18
Loan-to-Value Ratio................................32
Manufactured Home..................................36
Manufactured Home Loan Schedule....................79
Manufactured Home Loans............................36
Maximum Mortgage Rate Adjustment...................34
Minimum Mortgage Rate..............................34
Minimum Principal Distribution Amount...............4
Moody's...........................................160
Mortgage Certificate Schedule......................77
Mortgage Loan Schedule.............................78
Mortgage Loans.....................................29
Mortgage Rates.....................................15
Mortgaged Property.................................16
Multi-Class Series..................................3
Multifamily Properties.............................14
NCUA..............................................165
Negatively Amortizing ARMs.........................34
No-Bid.............................................71
Non-Equity Securities.............................161
Non-U.S. Person...................................136
Notes...............................................1
Offered Securities..................................2
PACs................................................1
Participants........................................6
Participation Agreement............................18
Participation Certificate Schedule.................79
Participation Certificates.........................79
Parties in Interest...............................158
PC Pool............................................23
Percentage Interest.................................3
Planned Amortization Certificates...................1
Plans.............................................158
PMBS Agreement.....................................27
PMBS Issuer........................................27
PMBS Servicer......................................27
PMBS Trustee.......................................27
Policy Statement..................................165
Pre-Funding Account................................38
Pre-Funding Arrangement............................38
Pre-Funding Limit.................................163
Primary Assets.....................................18
Principal Distribution Amount.......................4
Principal Weighted Securities.......................1
Private Mortgage-Backed Securities.................18
PTCE..............................................162
Qualified Insurer..................................54
Qualifying Substitute Mortgage Loan................80
Rating Agency.......................................5
RCRA..............................................103
Relevant Depositary.................................8
REO Property.......................................90
Reserve Fund.......................................17
Retained Interest..................................17
Rules...............................................9
S&P...............................................160
Scheduled Payments.................................15
Scheduled Principal................................24
Securities..........................................1
Seller.............................................78
Senior Securities...................................4
Servicing Account..................................49
Servicing Agreements...............................45
Single Family Property.............................22
SMMEA.............................................164
SPA................................................13
Subordinate Securities...........................1, 4
Subordinated Amount................................61
Subordination Reserve Fund.........................62
Subsequent Primary Assets..........................38
Subservicers.......................................45
Subsidy Fund.......................................50
Taxable Mortgage Pools............................111
Terms and Conditions................................8
Tiered REMICs.....................................116
Title V...........................................105
Title VIII........................................106
UCC................................................99
underwriter.......................................159
Underwriters......................................166
VA.................................................20
VA Loans...........................................20
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The estimated expenses expected to be incurred by the Registrant in
connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being
registered, other than underwriting compensation, are as follows:
SEC Registration Fee.................................................. $ 264
Trustee's Fees and Expenses (including counsel fees)*................. 25,000
Printing and Engraving Costs*......................................... 30,000
Rating Agency Fees*................................................... 170,000
Legal Fees and Expenses*.............................................. 80,000
Blue Sky Fees and Expenses*........................................... 5,000
Accounting Fees and Expenses*......................................... 20,000
Miscellaneous*........................................................ 5,000
Total.............................................................. $335,264
- -------------------
* Estimated in accordance with Item 511 of Regulation S-K.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
The registrant's certificate of incorporation provides that directors and
officers of the registrant will be indemnified as permitted by Delaware law.
Section 145 of the Delaware Corporation Law provides, in substance, that
Delaware corporations have the power, under specified circumstances, to
indemnify their directors, officers, employees or agents in connection with
actions, suits or proceedings involving any of them by reason of the fact that
they were or are such directors, officers, employees or agents, against
expenses incurred in any such action, suit or proceeding.
The form of Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this
Registration Statement provides, under certain circumstances, for
indemnification of the Registrant and other persons.
Item 16. Exhibits.
1.1(2) Form of Underwriting Agreement
3.1(1) Certificate of Incorporation of Structured Asset
Securities Corporation as currently in effect
3.2(1) Bylaws of Structured Asset Securities Corporation as
currently in effect
4.1(4) Form of Deposit Trust Agreement
4.2(4) Form of Administration Agreement
4.3(2)(3) Form of Trust Agreement
4.4(4) Form of Indenture
4.5(4) Form of Sale and Collection Agreement
4.6(2) Form of Servicing Agreement
4.7(2) Form of Standard Provisions for Servicing
5.1(4) Opinion of Brown & Wood LLP as to legality (including
consent of such firm)
8.1(4) Opinion of Brown & Wood LLP as to certain tax matters
(including consent of such firm included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.1(4) Consent of Brown & Wood LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1(4) Power of Attorney (included on page II-4)
99.1(2) Form of Primary Mortgage Insurance Policy
99.2(2) Form of FHA Mortgage Insurance Certificate
99.3(2) Form of VA Loan Guaranty
99.4(2) Form of Mortgage Pool Insurance Policy
99.5(2) Form of Standard Hazard Insurance Policy
99.6(2) Form of Special Hazard Insurance Policy
99.7(2) Form of Bankruptcy Bond
99.8(3) Form of Mortgage Repurchase Bond
99.9(3) Form of Letter of Credit
99.10(3) Form of Interest Rate Protection Agreement
99.11(3) Form of Interest Rate Swap Agreement
99.12(3) Form of Certificate Guarantee Insurance Policy
99.13(2) (3)Form of Exchange Agreement
- ----------------------------
(1) Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 333-47499), filed with the Commission on
March 6, 1998.
(2) Incorporated herein by reference to Amendment No. 1 to Registration
Statement on Form S-11 (Reg. No. 33-13986), filed with the Commission on
December 12, 1987.
(3) Incorporated herein by reference to Form 8-K filed by Structured Asset
Securities Corporation on March 15, 1989.
(4) Previously filed.
Item 17. Undertakings
A. Undertaking in respect of Rule 415 offering.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: (i) to include any
prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended; (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
Registration Statement; and (iii) to include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
Registration Statement or any material change of such information in the
Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in the post-effective amendment is
contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13
or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective amendment shall
be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination
of the offering.
B. Undertaking in respect of filings incorporating subsequent Exchange Act
documents by reference.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
C. Undertaking in respect of indemnification.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with
the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of
its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
D. Undertakings for registration statement permitted by Rule 430A.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as
part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained
in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1)
or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, shall be deemed
to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared
effective; and
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of
prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in New York, New York on
the 9th day of May, 2000.
STRUCTURED ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ Mark L. Zusy
-----------------------
Mark L. Zusy
Chairman
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-3 has been signed
below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Mark L.
Zusy, Neal Leonard, James J. Sullivan and David Goldfarb, and each of them his
or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, acting together or alone,
with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for them and in their
name, place and stead, to sign any or all amendments to this Registration
Statement (including any pre-effective or post-effective amendment), and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, acting together or alone, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, acting together or alone, or other
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Mark L. Zusy Chairman and Director May 9, 2000
- --------------------------------------
Mark L. Zusy
/s/ Neal Leonard Managing Director and Director May 9, 2000
- --------------------------------------
Neal Leonard
/s/ James J. Sullivan Director May 9, 2000
- --------------------------------------
James J. Sullivan
/s/ David Goldfarb Controller May 9, 2000
- ---------------------------------------- (Principal Financial and
David Goldfarb Accounting Officer)
</TABLE>
